CONSTABLE (Lat. eonstabulus). Whether this officer was called originally comes stabuli, the count of the stable or master of the horse (as alleged by Ducange), or the koninq-stapel, staff and stay of the king (as Coke, Selden, and others, with less reason, have maintained), the C., both in France and England, was a military personage of the very highest rank. The C. of France rose gradually in importance from the compara tively modest position of an officer of the household, till at last lie became, ex officio, the commander-in-chief of the army in the absence of the monarch, the highest judge in military offenses and in all questions of chivalry and honor, and the supreme rogu lator and arbitrator in all matters connected with tilts, tournaments, and all martial dis plays. The office of C. is traced back by .Ansehne to Alberic, who held it in 1060; but the first C. of France who appeared at the head of an array was Matthew, the second seigneur de 3Iontmorency. The office was suppressed by Louis NHL in 1626. Among the offices of the ancient monarchy which were restored by Napoleon for mere of state, that of C. was one. His brother, prince Louis Napoleon, afterwards king of Holland, was created grand C., the vice-C. being marshal Berthier. The office was again abolished on the restoration of the Bourbons, and has not since been re-established. But besides the C. of France, almost all the great vassals of the crown had constables who tilled analogous offices at their minor courts. There were constables of Burgundy, of
Champagne, and of Normandy; the latter of whom may be regarded as the progenitor of the C. of England.
Shortly after the conquest, a lord high C. of England appears, with powers and privi leges closely corresponding to those of the C. of 'ranee (13 Rich. II. st. 1. c. 2). his position as judge of the court of chivalry, in conjunction with the earl-mareschal, and the limitation of his power, which followed on the statute 13 Rich II. C. 2, are explained under CIIIVALRY, COURT en?. The office was abolished by Henry VIII. on the attainder of Edward Stafford, duke of Buckingham; and a lord high C. is now appointed only on the occurrence of great state ceremonies, e.g., a coronation, The high C. of Scotland was an officer very similar to the C. of France and England. After the rebellion, the offices of the inferior constables dependent on the high C., such as the C. of the castle (q.v.). were abolished, but that of the high C. himself was expressly exempted, and still exists in the noble family of Errol. The privileges attaching to this office are now entirely honorary; but in virtue of it, the earl of Errol is said to be the first subject in Scotland after the blood-royal; and on the ocasion of the visit of king George IV. to Edinburgh, the then earl was allowed to take precedence of the possessors of all other hereditary honors. The present earl of Errol is the 22d high C. of Scotland.