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What Heraldry Means. - College of Arms: Marshal

An Earl Marshal is the foremost of all the tried and faithful adherents that guard the premises of the shrivelled dame; his office, during her younger days, was given to any favorite of the king, his choice alone being allowed to fill the position. This continued until the time of Charles the Second, who, impecunious magnificence that he was, had little except wordy honors to bestow upon his favorites. To please the Duke of Norfolk he made the office of Earl Marshal hereditary in his family. The duke was likewise fortunate in having the batons of office, which are always displayed crosswise behind his shield, made of gold with black enamelled points, instead of the wooden ones formerly used. At that time the office was no sinecure, but the present young duke does not find his duties too wearing, as they now consist in little else than in issuing all royal proclamations and arranging all solemnities attending certain royal celebrations.