The manner of proceeding here is much like that in the courts of the civil law; for the actions are by bill or plaint; the witnesses are privately examined; there is no jury, but all the sentences are given by the judge of the court. However as it proceeds not according to law, it is no court of record, and therefore binds only the person, his lands and goods.
To this court belong twelve masters in chancery; an accountant general; six head clerks; sixty-two sworn clerks, who purchase their places, and twelve waiting clerks, whose places are given by the six clerks; two chief examiners, with their respective clerks; a chief and four inferior registers; the clerk of the crown; a prothonotary; clerks of the petty bag, subpæna, patent, affidavit, cursitors, and alienation office.
Masters in Chancery, are the twelve assistants of the Chancellor or Lord Keeper, the first of whom is Master of the rolls, which is a place of great dignity, and is in the gift of the King. These gentlemen sit at Westminster hall, with the Lord Chancellor, three at a time while the term lasts, and two at a time when the Lord Chancellor sits to hear causes in his own house, and to them he often refers the farther hearing of causes; he also refers to them matters of account, and other things of small moment; but never the merits of the cause.
The salary of the Masters in chancery is 100l. to each of them paid quarterly out of the Exchequer, besides robe money.
Chancery lane, Fleet street, so called from the court of Chancery there.
Chandler’s alley, Orchard street, Westminster.*
Chandler’s rents, Black Friars.†
Chandler’s street, Duke street.†
Chandos street, Bedford street, Covent Garden.†
Chanel row, New Palace yard. See Canon Row.