CHANCELLOR

title in England of head of legal profe ion. The name can cellar i us was given by Romans to Official who in law courts sat at ‘chancel’ or screen separating public from judge and counsel; in Byzantine Empire| notaries were called can cellar i i; title} retained by barbarian states who imbibed | Roman law, and given to subordinate legal officials, over whom was archt-| ~ hppa une Koes of eae nities, who developed in Englan to the Lord High C. The name has been since applied to oe of seals of many organizations; title lost in most Huropean countries, and applied in Germany to chief political (not legal) official. In England the office existed from Saxon times, and became next in importance to justiciarship in time of Henry II.; uitable jurisdiction dates from 1280, when petitions to king were referred to chancellor; in reign of Edward III. he ceased to follow the court, and petitions were directed to him straight; later, keepership of Great Seal sometimes separated from chancellorship. For office of Lord C. of Scotland, that of Keeper of Great Seal was substituted at the Union, 1707.