They were called Moshitsugishu, and later this became a term referring to the rank of the family, ranked after Oshobanshu (officials who accompany shogun), Otomoshu (group who attended the shogun to the ancient capital Kyoto), Oheyashu (the position in charge of keeping night watch over the shogun's bedchamber).
これを申次衆と呼び、後に御相伴衆・御供衆・御部屋衆に次ぐ家格としての意味を有するようになった。