CHAMBERLAIN (Germ. Kammerherr; Ital. Camorlingo), court officer, originally em ployed, as the name indicates, to take charge either of the private apartments of a prince, or of a treasury, called in the 10th century camera (whence the word chamber). The gold en key, which is worn by the chamberlains of the European courts on two small golden but tons (as well as the buttons when the key is omitted), indicates also the origin of the office. At present the employment of cham berlains (when their office is not merely nomi nal) is to attend on the persons of the princes and their consorts. There is generally a chief or high chamberlain. This officer in England is called Lord Great Chamberlain of England. His office is one of great antiquity and honor, being ranked as the sixth great office under the English Crown. It is entirely distinct from that of Lord Chamberlain of the Household (see below). To the Lord Great Chamberlain belong lodging and livery at the king's court; and there are certain fees due to him from each archbishop and bishop when they perform their homage to the king; and from all peers at their creation, on doing their homage. At the coronation of the sovereign, he has an allowance of 40 ells of crimson velvet for his own robes. This officer, on the coronation day, is to bring the king his shirt, coif and wearing apparel, 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 dinner, etc. This officer has also the care of providing all things in the House of Lords during session; the government of the palace of Westminster; and he disposes of the sword of state to be carried before the king, to any lord he pleases. The
office of Lord Great Chamberlain of England is hereditary, and has descended through the two sisters and coheiresses of the 4th Duke of Ancaster (d. 1779) to its present holders, the Earl of Ancaster, the Marquess of Cholmon deley and the Marquess of Lincolnshire, who act in rotation. The last-named performs the duties during the present reign. The keys of Westminster Hall and the Court of Requests are delivered to the Lord Great Chamberlain on all solemn occasions. He goes on the right hand of the sword, next the king'sperson. The Gentleman Usher to the Black Rod, Yeo man Usher, etc., are under his authority.
The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is an officer who has the oversight and direction of all the officers belonging to the king's cham bers, except the precinct of the Icing's bed chamber. He has the oversight of the officers of the wardrobe at all His Majesty's houses, and of the removing of wardrobes or of beds, tents, revels, music, comedians, hunting, mes sengers, etc., retained in the king's service. He moreover has the entire oversight and direction of the sergeants-at-arms, of all physicians, apothecaries, surgeons, barbers, the king's chaplains, etc., and administers the oath to all officers above stairs. To his department belong the two dramatic censors, called Examiners of Plays.
The Chamberlain of London receives and keeps the city money which is laid up in the chamber of London; he also presides over the affairs of masters and apprentices, and admits duly qualified persons to the freedom of the city, etc. His tenure of office only lasts a year, but he is usually re-elected.
At all monarchical courts there are almost as many different chamberlains as there are kin4s of chambers; the English chamberlains here cited, and their duties, may be taken as typical.