The Marshal (among the Franks Marescalcus, and Comes stabuli) was properly speaking the Master of the Horse, and had charge of everything connected with the royal equipments, in that department. But as he gradually became the head of the active and disposable military force of the palace, he must be looked upon rather as the general of the Household troops. It was thus that the high military dignity of Constable, or Grand Marshal, by degrees developed itself. This office was held by nobles of the highest rank, and frequently by several at once,—a sufficient explanation of a fact which otherwise would appear strange, viz. that we never find the royal power endangered by that of this influential minister. The Anglosaxon titles are Steallere and Horsþegn, Stabulator and Strator régis. We have no evidence of the existence of the office before the close of the ninth century, and it might therefore be imagined that it was introduced into England after the establishment of the family of Ecgberht had familiarized our countrymen with the Frankish court and its customs, did we not find it as an essential institution in all German courts, of all periods. Among the Anglo-Saxon Marshals the following names occur:— Ecgwulf strator regis: cyninges horsþegn, an. 897[211]. Ðored steallere, about 1020[212]. Ésgár steallere, 1044-1066[213]. Robert filius Wimarc steallere[214]. Ælfstán steallere[215]. Eádgár steallere, 1060-1066[216]. Raulf steallere, 1053-1066[217]. Bondig steallere, 1060-1066[218]. stabulator[219]. Eádnóð steallere[220]. Lýfing steallere[221]. Ælfred regis strator, 1052[222]. Osgod Clapa steallere, 1047[223]. The Steward, usually called Dapifer or Discifer regis, answered to the Seneschal of the Franks (the Truchsess of the German empire); his especial business was to superintend all that appertained to the service of the royal table, under which we must probably include the arrangements for the general support of the household, both at the ordinary and temporary residences of the king. His Anglosaxon name was Discþegn, or thane of the table; and I find the following nobles recorded as holding this office:— Eata dux et regis discifer, under Offa, 785[224]. Wulfgár discifer, ... Eádwig, 959[225]. Æðelmǽr discþegn, ... Æðelred, 1006[226]. Raulf dapifer, } ... Eádweard, 1060[227]. Ésgar dapifer, } Atsur regis dapifer, } ... Eádweard, 1062[228]. Yfing regis dapifer, } ... ----- Footnote 201: