Chamberlain of London, an officer of great trust, annually chosen on Midsummer day, tho’ he enjoys his place for life, if he is not found guilty of some great crime. He receives and pays all the city cash, and with him are deposited all public securities, for which he annually accounts to the proper auditors. As he is therefore entrusted with very considerable sums, he is obliged to give security for his fidelity, at his entrance into his office.
Chamberlain’s Office, is kept in Guildhall, in a room on the right hand side of the passage leading into the court of King’s bench, where this officer attends every morning, to decide the differences that arise between masters and apprentices, to enrol and turn over the latter, and to admit all who are duly qualified, to the freedom of the city; of whom there are annually admitted about fifteen hundred.
Chamber’s street, 1. Goodman’s Fields.† 2. Upper Shadwell.†
Chamber’s wharf, near the Bridge yard.†
Campion lane, Thames street.†
Lord High Chancellor, the supreme and sole judge in the court of Chancery, where he is to judge according to equity and conscience, and to moderate the exact rigour and letter of the common law, to which all other judges are strictly tied; but his decrees may be reversed by the house of Lords. This great officer, who is assisted by the masters in Chancery, takes precedency after the Archbishop of Canterbury, and next to the King, and Princes of the blood, is the highest person in the kingdom in civil affairs. The Lord High Chancellor is generally Keeper of the great seal, and is thence stiled Lord Keeper. See the article Lord Keeper.
Chancellor of the Exchequer. See the article Exchequer.
Chancellor of St. Paul’s, an officer anciently called Magister Scholarum, from his having the literature of the city committed to his care, by which he was impowered to license all the schoolmasters in London, except those of St. Martin’s le Grand, and Mary le Bow; but at present he is only Secretary to the Chapter, and has the third stall on the north side of the choir.
Court of Chancery. In the opinion of several learned men this court took its name from the cross bars of iron or wood, called by the Romans cancelli, with which it was formerly inclosed, to prevent the officers being incommoded by the crowding of the people. The Chancery consists of two courts, in one of which the Lord Chancellor proceeds according to the laws and statutes of the kingdom, and in the second, according to equity, judging rather by the spirit than the letter of the laws. In case of absence, his place upon the bench is supplied by the Master of the rolls, who also determines causes in the same equitable manner. See the article Lord Chancellor.
It is the peculiar business of this court to rescue people out of the hands of their oppressors, and to afford relief in case of fraud, accidents, and breach of trust. Besides, out of this court are issued writs for parliaments, charters, patents for sheriffs, writs of certiorari to remove records and false judgments in inferior courts, writs of moderata misericordia, when a person has been amerced too high, and for a reasonable part of goods for widows and orphans. Here also are sealed and enrolled, treaties with foreign Princes, letters patent, commissions of appeal, oyer and terminer, &c.