46

THE PALACE OP WESTMINSTER.

generations continued to exercise the office of Great Chamberlain until Robert, fourth Earl of Lindsey,was created Duke of Ancaster and Kestevon, in 1715. Upon the decease of Robert, fourth duke, withoutissue, in 1779, the ancient barony of Willoughby de Ereshy devolved upon his Grace’s eldest sister andco-heir, the Lady Priscilla Elizabeth Bertie (wife of Sir Peter Burrell, Bart., first Baron of Gwydyr,) inwhose right her son, Lord Willoughby de Ereshy, now exercises that office.

“ To this great officer (writes the accurate compiler of ‘ The Laws of Honour’) belongs livery and“ lodgings in the Royal Court , and certain fees due from each Archbishop or Bishop when they perform“ their homage or fealty to the Sovereign, and from all the Peers of the realm at their creation, or doing“ their homage or fealty; and at the Coronation of every King or Queen claims forty ells of crimson“ velvet for his own robes, as also on the Coronation Day, before the King rises, to bring his apparel,“ and after he is by him dressed, the bed and all furniture of the Chamber is his fees, with all the King’s“ apparel that he wears on that day: he carries the gloves and linen used by the King at the Coronation ,“ likewise the sword and scabbard, and the gold to be offered by the King, with the robe royal and“ crown, and to put them on; and to serve the King that day before and after dinner with water to“ wash his hands, and to have the basin and towel for his fees.

“ To him belongs the care of providing all things in the House of Lords during the time of“ Parliament , to which he has an apartment near the Lords ’ House .

“ He has the government of the whole Palace of Westminster ; he also issues forth his warrants for“ the preparing, fitting, and furnishing, of Westminster Hall against coronations and trials of Peers or“ others tried by Peers in Parliament .

“ The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, the Yeoman Usher, and door-keepers, are under his“ command.

“ It is in his breast to dispose of the Sword of State to what Lord he pleases, to be carried before“ the King or Queen when they come to Parliament ; and goes on the right hand of the sword next to“ the King’s or Queen’s person, and the Lord Marshal on the left. Upon all solemn occasions, the keys“ of Westminster Hall, and the keys of the Court of Wards, and Court of Requests, are delivered to him.”

The other officers are, the Lord High Chancellor, the Clerks of Parliament, the Gentleman Usherof the Black Rod, the Yeoman Usher, Sergeant-at-Arms, Librarian , etc.

The Lord High Chancellor performs all matters which appertain to the Speaker of the House of Lords , and sits upon the woolsack, with the Great Seal of England constantly before him.

“ He is the inlarger, explainer, interpreter, or pronouncer of the King’s commands or pleasure;“ and that which is further observable, of seventy-two officers under his jurisdiction, more than forty-“ four of them are employed in Parliament concerns; either upon its summoning or during its sitting.“ And as his warrant is the second warrant that gives life to a Parliament , and vivacity to its continuance“ by sessions and recesses, so he gives the second fiat to its dissolution. He hath also an apartment near“ the Lords ’ House for himself to retire to, and for his Sergeant-at-Arms and others of his attendants.”—(Laws of Honour.)