An officer who was formerly entitled to command all the king’s armies in the absence of the king, and to take cognizance of all crimes committed within four miles of the king’s person or of parliament , the privy council, or any general convention of the states of the kingdom. The office was hereditary in the family of Errol, and was abolished by the 20 Geo. III. c. 43. Bell; Ersk. Inst. 1, 3, 37.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
