CHAIPBERLAIN, a high officer in all European courts. Originally the chamberlain was the keeper of the treas. nre-chamber ; and this meaning of the word is still preserved, in the usages of the corporations of London and other places, where the chamberlain is the officer who keeps the money belonging to the municipal body. But in modern times, the court officer styled chamber lain has the charge of the private apart ments of the sovereign or noble to whom he is attached. In England, the lord great chamberlain, or king's cham berlain, is one of the three great officer's of the king's household. He has the con trol of all the officers above stairs, except the precinct of the bedchamber, which is under the government of the groom of the stole. Under him are the vice-cham berlain, lord of the bedchamber, &e.; the chaplains, officers of the wardrobe, phy sicians, tradesmen, artisans, and others retained in his majesty's service are in his department, and sworn into office by hint. lie is commonly one of the highest nobility of the country; in virtue of his situation he precedes dukes. The am
blew of office appropriated to the cham berlain in European courts is a gold key, generally suspended from two gold but tons.—The LORD GREAT CHAMBERLAIN OF ENGLAND (not of the household) is the sixth great officer of state. This office belonged for many centuries to the noble family of De Vere, Earls of Oxford; af terward to that of Bertie, Lords Wil loughby de Eresby and Dukes of Aneas ter. In that line it became vested in coheiresses, by whom the present deputy chamberlain (Lord Gwydir) is appointed. ClIAAPERE ARDENTE, in French history, a name given to the tribunal which was instituted by Francis I. for the purpose of trying and burning heretics; and also the extraordinary commissions established under Louis XIV. for the ex amination of prisoners, and under the regent Duke of Orleans against public officers charged with certain offences against the revenues, and those guilty of fraud in the matter of Law's bank.