Chancellor

Forms: 1–2 canceler, I cancheler, 3–4 chaunseler(e, 3–6 chaunceler, chanceler, 4 chancelere, (chancelier), 5 chanceller, (schanchler), 6 chaunsler, chansler, chauncellour, -or, chauncelour, -or, chancelleur, (Sc. chanclair), 6–7 chancelor, 7–8 chancellour, 6– chancellor. [ME. and AFr. canceler, chanceler, a. OF. cancelier, chancelier:—L. cancellārius usher of a law court, whose station was ad cancellos at the bars or grating which separated the public from the judges (see CANCELLI, CHANCEL). The word appeared already in late OE. as canceler (occas. cancheler), evidently introduced by Edward the Confessor from Norman French cancheler; this was in 13th c. supplanted by the Central Fr. form chanceler; and this in late Anglo-Fr., and thence in 16th c. English, was erroneously spelt -our, -or, like other words properly in -er, -re, etc.: cf. ANCESTOR, and see -OR.]

  [The early history of the sense lies outside English: in the Roman Empire, the cancellarius was a petty officer stationed at the bar (of lattice work) in a basilica or other law court (cf. CANCELLI, CHANCEL), as usher of the court; in the Eastern Empire he had risen to be a secretary or notary, who in later times was invested also with judicial functions. From the ancient Roman Empire, the name and office was transferred to the Western Empire, and Kingdoms, with a varying but generally increasing importance. It appears to have been introduced into England by Edward the Confessor, and became an important office under the Norman Kings, the chancellor as official secretary having superintendence of all charters, letters, and official writings of the sovereign, the custody of the royal seals, and important legal functions; see senses 1 a, 2 a. From the Roman Empire the office also passed into the church (whence sense 5), and into the mediæval orders of knighthood (whence 6 b).

1875.  Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 2), I. 352. The chancellor of the Karolingian sovereigns … is simply the royal notary…. Edward the Confessor, the first of our sovereigns who had a seal, is also the first who had a chancellor…. The whole of the secretarial work of the household and court fell on the chancellor and chaplains.]

  I.  1. General sense of secretary, official secretary. Obs. or alien. † a. of the king of England. Obs.

  This office has developed into that described in 2 a, and for the sake of historical continuity the quotations are all given there, but the earliest also belong here, and the phrase the King’s Chancellor continued in occasional use down to the 16th c.

  † b.  of the queen-consort. Obs.

a. 1131.  O. E. Chron., an. 1123. Þes cwenes canceler Godefreið wæs ʓehaten.

  c.  of foreign or ancient potentates.

c. 1300.  K. Alis., 1810. Darie … of-clepith his chaunselere, And hoteth him sende, fer and nere … lettres hard.

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Sam. xx. 24. Josaphat, the sone of Achilud, the chaunselere [1535 Coverd. chaunceler; 1611 recorder].

1611.  Bible, Ezra iv. 8. Rehum the Chancellour, and Shimshai the Scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem.

  d.  of a nobleman or great lord.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., II. i. 20. The Great Duke Came to the Bar … At which appear’d against him, his Surueyor, Sir Gilbert Pecke his Chancellour, and Iohn Car.

  e.  The French equivalent is sometimes applied to the chief secretary of an embassy, and the English form occurs as its representative.

1788.  T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 499. The Consuls and vice-Consuls, and persons attached to their functions, that is to say, their chancellors and secretaries.

1885.  Whitaker’s Alm., 312. [Officers of the Austrian Embassy in London] Chancellor.

  II.  Modern uses of the title arising out of the original sense:

  2.  a. Chancellor of England, also called Lord Chancellor, and Lord High Chancellor: the same officer who was originally the King’s Chancellor (see 1 a), who has in course of time become the highest officer of the crown, and an important member of the cabinet.

  He is the highest judicial functionary in the kingdom, and ranks above all peers spiritual and temporal, except only princes of the blood, and the archbishop of Canterbury; he is keeper of the Great Seal, is styled ‘Keeper of his Majesty’s conscience,’ and is president and prolocutor of the House of Lords; he presides in what was the Court of Chancery, but is now the Chancery Division of the Supreme Court; appoints all justices of peace; is the general guardian of infants, lunatics, and idiots; is visitor of hospitals and colleges of royal foundation, and patron of all church livings under twenty marks in value.

a. 1066.  Chart. Eadweard, in Cod. Dipl., IV. 229. Stigand se archebisceop, Harold eorl, Rengebold cancheler.

O. E. Chron., an. 1093. [Se cyng] … betæhte … Rodbeard his cancelere þæt biscoprice on Lincolne. Ibid. (a. 1154), an. 1137. Þar he nam þe b’ Roger of Sereburi … & te Canceler Roger his neues.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 468. The king him made is chaunceler.

c. 1300.  Beket, 219. Seint Thomas that was Chanceler.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 128. His Chancelere Thomos of London.

138[?].  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., III. 335. Oure bishopis þat pressen to be chaunseler.

1413.  Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xxxiii. (1483), 81. The thyrd counceilour of the kynge is the chaunceler.

1556.  Chron. Gr. Friars (1852), 93. Morton, cardnalle & chaunceler of Ynglond.

1584.  Powel, Lloyd’s Cambria, 242. The bishop of Elie, the Kings Chanceler.

1591.  Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 51. Edward … having spent a great part of his age in Normandie, first brought the use of the Seale from thence into this Realme; and with it (as I suppose) the Name of Chancellor.

1781.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., II. 54. In some respects, the office of the Imperial quæstor may be compared with that of a modern chancellor.

1818.  Cruise, Digest, IV. 370. It was resolved by the Chancellor, and all the Judges of England, except one.

1845.  Graves, Rom. Law, in Encycl. Metrop., 741/1. Our ancient chancellors, up to the time of Wolsey, were mostly ecclesiastics.

1875.  Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xv. 269. Robert Burnell was the first great chancellor, as Hubert de Burgh was the last great justiciar.

  β.  Lord Chancellor.

  (Lord, or my Lord, was at first no part of the title; it now distinguishes him from the Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

1485.  Plumpton Corr., 48. My lord Schanchler publyshed in the Parlament house the same day, that [etc.].

1663.  Cowley, Verses & Ess. (1669), 39. Bacon … Whom a wise King, and Nature chose Lord Chancellor of both their Lawes.

1663.  Flagellum or O. Cromwell, Pref. 2. A common … Sentence of my Lord Chancellours.

1765.  Blackstone, Comm., I. I. ii. 133. The lord chancellor … sends his warrant to the clerk.

1844.  Ld. Brougham, Brit. Const., xvii. (1862), 273. The highest of all the Judges, though only clothed with a civil jurisdiction, the Lord Chancellor.

  γ.  Lord High Chancellor.

1589.  Hay any Work, 27. The offices of our L. high Chancellor, high Treasurer, and high Steward of Englande.

1707.  (title) The History of the Rebellion … Written by the … Earl of Clarendon, late Lord High Chancellor of England.

1876.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., V. xxiv. 433. The Lord High Chancellor of later times, the highest Judge in equity, the Speaker of the House of Lords, the proverbial keeper of the King’s conscience, arose from more lowly beginnings than any other of the great officers of state.

  b.  Lord Chancellor of Ireland, an officer of the Irish government, having duties analogous to those of the same officer in England.

1850.  C. Phillips, J. P. Curran, 408. The Irish Lord Chancellor received a hint that his resignation would not be unacceptable. Ibid., 409. The Irish Chancellor felt himself … compelled to give way.

  † c.  Chancellor of Scotland, a similar officer before the Union of 1707, who was the head of law as well as equity in that kingdom. Obs.

  3.  Chancellor of the Exchequer: the highest finance minister of the British Government: historically, he is the under-treasurer of the Exchequer, whose office has become of prime importance, since that of Treasurer came to be held not by an individual, but by the Lords Commissioners of the TREASURY. (See also EXCHEQUER.)

[1248.  Trin. Commun. 32 H. 3., Rot. 8 b [Madox, 580]. Radulphus de Leycestria de Licentia Regis remisit Regi Officium Cancellarij de Scaccaria.

a. 1300.  Red book of Excheq., 14 b (Oath) En loffice de Chanceller del Escheqer.]

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 280. To Berwik cam þe kynge Eschekere, Sir Hugh of Cressyngham he was chancelere, Walter of Admundesham he was Tresorere.

1535.  Act 26 Hen. VIII., c. 3. The Treasurer, Chancellor, Chamberlaine, and Barons of the Kings Eschequer.

1672.  R. Wild, Poet. Licent., 35.

1711.  Madox, Hist. Excheq., 580. In the 18th year of K. Henry III, John Mansell was appointed to execute a certain office at the Exchequer. I cannot tell what office it was, unless it was That of Chancellour.

1713.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 12 March. The chancellor of the exchequer sent the author of the Examiner twenty guineas.

1836.  Penny Cycl., VI. 482/1. The chancellor of the Exchequer is under-treasurer, and holds the seal of the Exchequer. Ibid. (1838), X. 110/2. The judges of the court of exchequer are the chancellor of the exchequer for the time being, the chief baron, and four other barons…. When the court sits in equity the chancellor of the exchequer has a voice (although now rarely exercised) in giving judgment.

1875.  Stubbs, Const. Hist. (ed. 2), II. 275. In the same reign [Henry III.] was created the office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, to whom the Exchequer seal was entrusted, and who with the Treasurer took part in the equitable jurisdiction of the Exchequer, although not in the common law jurisdiction of the barons.

  transf.  1841.  Marryat, Poacher, xxvi. For … two years Joey had filled his situation as chancellor of the exchequer to Mrs. Chopper.

  4.  Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster: originally the chancellor of the Duchy Court of Lancaster, the representative of the King as Duke of Lancaster; now one of the ministers of the crown (he may or may not be in the cabinet), who presides, personally or by deputy, in the Duchy Chamber of Lancaster, deciding on all matters of equity connected with lands held of the crown in that Duchy.

1553.  Act 5 & 6 Edw. VI., c. 26. Writs … shall and may from henceforth be directed … to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

1607.  Cowell, Interpr., s.v. Dutchy Court, A Court wherein all maters appertaining to the Dutchy of Lancaster are descided by the decree of the Chauncelour of that Court.

1698.  Petition, in N. & Q. (1885), II. 364. Thomas, Earle of Stanford, Chancellour of his Maj^tys Dutchy and County Palatine of Lancashire.

1768.  Blackstone, Comm., III. 78.

1804.  G. Rose, Diaries (1860), II. 133. Lord Mulgrave to be Chancellor of the Duchy.

1874.  Times Summary, 1873. The return of Mr. Bright to the Cabinet as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

  5.  Chancellor of a bishop or of a diocese: a law officer, who acts as vicar-general for the bishop, and holds courts for him, to decide on cases tried by ecclesiastical law.

c. 1400.  St. Alexius (Laud 622), 968. þoo þapostoile had his book, His chaunceler he it bitook To rede.

1536–40.  Pilgryms T., 274, in Thynne’s Animadv. The bisshop is not her … ner yet his chansler.

a. 1581.  Bp. R. Cox, Injunctions. That all Churchwardens within the dioces of Elie shal … certifie … all such matters … to the Chauncelour or his deputie vpon some court day.

1726.  Ayliffe, Parerg., 160. Chancellors or Bishops Lawyers.

1735.  in Swift’s Lett. (1768), IV. 137. In the diocese of Wells the bishop and his chancellor have quarrelled.

1888.  Whitaker’s Alm., 238. [Diocese of] London … Chancellor, Thomas H. Tristram.

  6.  Chancellor of a chapter: a. of a cathedral: one of the four chief dignitaries in the cathedrals of old foundation.

  (He applies the seal, writes letters of the chapter, keeps the books, etc.)

1578.  Scot. Poems 16th C., II. 167. Though thow bee archbishop or deane, Chantour, chanclair or chaplane.

1884.  Crockford’s Clerical Direct., 426. Forrister, Hon. Orlando Watkin Wild … Canon Residentiary, and Chancellor of York Cathedral 1874.

  b.  of an order of knighthood: the officer who seals the commissions and mandates of the chapter and assembly of the knights, keeps the register of their proceedings, and delivers their acts under the seal of their order.

1577.  Harrison, Eng., II. v. (1877), I. 123. The chancellor of the order [garter] fiue yards of woollen cloth.

1688.  R. Holme, Accid. Arm., III. 54. The Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, doth wear about his Neck in a Gold Chain, the cognizance of a Rose of Gold.

1885.  Whitaker’s Alm., 87. Knights of the most noble order of the Garter … Chancellor, Bishop of Oxford.

  7.  The titular head of a university.

  In the English Universities an ancient office: in the Scotch established by the Act of 1858. The office now is mostly honorary, the actual duties being performed in the English Universities by a Vice-Chancellor, appointed from the Heads of Colleges. Certain important prizes are given by the Chancellor; hence Chancellor’s Prize Poem, Chancellor’s Medal, Chancellor’s Medallist.

c. 1305.  St. Edmund, 240, in E. E. P. (1862), 77. Þe Chanceler … sede þat he schulde bigynne & rede.

1473–4.  Act 12 & 13 Edw. IV., in Oxf. & Camb. Enactm., 8. The chaunceler and Scolers of the universite.

1577.  Harrison, England, II. iii. (1877), I. 82. Over each universitie also there is a seuerall chancelor.

1615.  Crooke, Body of Man, 57. Iobertus sometimes the learned Chancellor of the Vniuersity of Mompelier in France.

1637.  Decree Star Chamb., § 3, in Milton’s Areop. (Arb.), 10. The Chancellours, or Vice Chancellors of either of the Vniuersities.

1751.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Chancellor of an University, is he who seals the diplomas or letters of degrees, provision, &c. given in the university.

1875.  Edin. Univ. Calend., 30. The Chancellor is elected for life by the General Council. He is the head of the University. [First] Chancellor Right Hon. Lord Brougham, elected 1859, died 1868.

c. 1878.  Trollope, Thackeray (Eng. Men Lett.), 5. The subject which was given for the Chancellor’s prize poem of that year.

1879.  T. H. S. Escott, England, II. 454 (Hoppe). A double-first, an Ireland Scholar, or a Chancellor’s Medallist.

1884.  Bidding Prayer, Oxford. The most honourable Robert marquis of Salisbury our Chancellor.

  8.  In Scotland, the foreman of a jury.

1762.  Hume, Hist. Eng. The jury … of which the Earl of Caithness was chancellor.

1837.  Lockhart, Scott (1839), VI. 283. That he should act as chancellor of the jury about to serve his grace heir (as the law phrase goes) to the Scottish estates of his family.

1867.  Carlyle, Remin. (1881), II. 10. The poor foreman [of the jury], Scotticè chancellor.

  III.  In foreign countries.

  9.  Most of the European countries have or formerly had a chief minister with this title; it was abolished in France at the Revolution; it is retained in Austro-Hungary from the Holy Roman Empire, and is also established in the new German Empire, as title of the President of the Federal Council, who has the general conduct of the imperial administration.

1611.  Cotgr., s.v. Chancellor, The Lord Chancellor is the principall Magistrat of France (as ours of England).

1838.  Penny Cycl., XI. 192/1. The archbishop of Mainz, arch-chancellor of the empire for Germany.

1869.  Times Summary of Year. The relations between the Austro-Hungarian Chancellor [Beust] and the Prussian Minister [Bismarck] have been for the most part unfriendly. Ibid. (1870). The purpose … of sounding the North German Chancellor on the possible conditions of peace. Ibid. (1875). It may be doubted whether the Imperial Chancellor will pay the same deference to a hostile Bavarian majority, [etc.].

  10.  U.S. The title of certain judges of courts of chancery or equity, established by the statutes of separate states.