ORIGIN OF MARSHALL AND FARRIER. 375 



intend their extensive stables in various parts of Nor- 

 mandy, but particularly at Rouen and Caen. This office 

 sometimes became hereditary, and frequently gave a title 

 of nobility to families — among these may be mentioned 

 the ' Marechal de Venoix.' To the fief of Venoix, 

 near Caen, was attached the duty of managing the stables 

 of the Duke of Normandy, and everything relating to 

 them : as the gathering of the forage from the fine 

 prairies of Caen, Venoix, and Louvigny, for the use of 

 the Duke's horses. Through holding this office, the 

 owner of the fief was designated ' Marechal de Venoix,' 

 or ' Marechal of the Prairie.' ' 



Among the noble families of France who derived their 

 origin from this Norman source, we find Laferriere and 

 Ferriere ; and these yet bear on their scutcheon eight horse- 

 shoes.^ The King of France, as also the nobles, his vassals, 

 had among his officers a marechal, who, under the ' conne- 

 table,' officiated as master of the horse, superintendent of 

 the shoers, and as veterinary surgeon. Father Anselmo,^ 

 speaking of the duties of the constable, gives an example : 

 ' The king pays to the cavaliers the value of the horses 

 they have lost in war, and for all those killed or disabled 

 on service ; the constable ought to value, through his 

 marechal, the war-horses belonging to him and his com- 

 panions and all the people of his hotel, and such price as 

 the marechal may fix, the king should allow.' 



The first French marechal to the king who com- 

 menced to elevate the dignity of his office in a military 



' E. HoueL Op. cit., p. 178. Megnin, p. 75. 



"^ Le Nobiliaire de Normandie. 



3 Histoire de la Maison Royale de France. 



