LANCASTER, DUCHY OF. An English duchy and county palatine (see PALATINE), created by royal charter. Edward III_ on the death of Henry, Duke of Lancaster, conferred the duchy on John of Gaunt and his heirs forever. During the Wars of the Roses, Henry VI. and Edward IV. both endeavored so to settle the duchy that it should descend to the heirs of their body apart from the crown, and continue with them in the event of their losing the latter. The result of these attempts has been the preservation of the duchy as a separate possession in order and goy' ernment, but united in point of inheritance. the monarch being possessor not as King of England. but as Duke of Lancaster. The duchy is almost co-equivalent with Lancashire. The net revenues which from £29.000 ($145.000) in 1947 had increased to £94,740 ($473.700) in 1890. are paid over to the privy purse. They are wholly ex empted from Parliamentary control. except that the annual account for receipt and expenditure is presented. The county palatine forms only a
portion of the duchy, which includes consider able estates not within the county palatine. There is a chancellor of the duchy (i.e. of the part of it which does not lie within the county), and of the county palatine, which two offices are generally united. The Duchy Court of Lancaster, held at Westminster, and presided over by the Chancellor. or his deputy. exercises jurisdiction in all matters of equity relating to the lands of the duchy. The administration of justice has been assimilated to that of the rest of England since 1S73. The office of Chancellor is a political appointment, which is usually conferred on a statesman of eminence, frequently a member of the Cabinet, who is expected to devote his time to such larger questions occupying the attention of Government as do not fall within other de partments. The stipend is £2000 ( nearly $10,000) per annum.