Village, _ab exporre Comestabulo_. This being so, _Albertus Krantzius_, lib. Suet. 5. cap. 41. ventures to affirm, that this _Constable_ was the same with what the _Germans_ call _Mareschal_. "They named (says he) a _Governor_, one of the best Soldiers, who might have the Power of Convocating the _Assembly_ of the Kingdom, and of acting in all Matters like the _Prince_. Our _Countrymen_ call him a _Mareschal_, the French call him _Constable_, &c." This seems the more probable, because I do not remember any Mention to have been made in ancient Times, of a _Mareschal_ in our _Francogallia_; so that 'tis very likely to have been an Institution of our latter Kings, accommodated to the Custom of the _Germans_. That this _Comitatus Stabulorum_, a _Constableship_, had its Rise from the Institution of the _Roman Emperors_, I do not at all question; altho' it grew by Degrees among us from slender Beginnings, to the Heighth of chief _Governor_ of the _Palace_. In former Times that Dignity was a Sort of _Tribunatus Militaris. Ammianus_, lib. 26. has this Expression where he speaks of _Valentinian_ the Emperor,--"Having fixed his Stages, or Days Journeys, he at last entred into _Nicomedia_; and about the Kalends of _March_, appointed his Brother _Valens_ to be Governor of his Stables, _cum tribunatus dignitate_, with _tribunitial Dignity_." What Kind of Dignity that was, we may find in the Code of _Justinian_, lib. 1. Cod. _de comitibus & tribunis Schol._ Where 'tis reckoned as a great Honour for them to preside over the Emperor's Banquets, when they might adore his Purple. Also in _lib. 3. Cod. Theodos. de annon. & tribut, perpensa, 29. Cod. Theod. de equorum Collatione & lib. 1. Cod. Theod._ wherein we may find a Power allowed them, of exacting Contribution to a certain Value from the Provincials who were to furnish War-Horses for the Emperor's Service.