CLIAMBERLAIN, Lord, of Great Britain, the sixth great officer of the crown; to whom belongs livery and lodging in the king's court ; and there are certian fees due to him from each archbishop or bishop, when they perform their homage to the king: and from all peers at their creation, on doing their homage. At the coronation of every king, he is to have forty ells of crimson velvet for his own robes. This officer, on the coronation day, is to bring the king his shirt, coif, and, wearing clothes ; and after the king is dressed, he claims his bed, and all the furniture of his chamber, for his fees: he also carries, at the coronation, the coif, gloves, and linen, to be used by the king on that occasion ; also the sword and • scabbard, the gold to be offered by the king, and the robes royal and crown : he dresses and undresses the king on that day, waits on him before and after din ner, &c. To this officer belongs the care of providing all things in the House of Lcirds, in the time of the Parliament : to him also belongs the government of the palace of Westminster : he disposes like wise of the sword of state, . to be car
ried before the king, to what lord he pleases.
The office of Lord Great Chamberlain of England is hereditary ; and where a person dies siezed in fee of this office, leaving two sisters, the office belongs to Moth, and they may execute it by deputy, but such deputy must be approved of by the king, and must not be of a degree inferior to a knight. To the Lord Cham berlain the keys of Westminster Hall, and the Court of Requests, are delivered upon all solemn occasions. He goes on the right hand of the sword, next the king's person. The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Yeoman Usher, &c. are under his authority.