Audley and the son of Sir Anthony Denny; the courtship of young Edward Trafford and Margaret Boothe under the decree of Lord Keeper Sir Nicholas Bacon; Lord Chancellor Hatton's address to the Bar on a call of Serjeants; Lord Ellesmere's decree to punish the prolixity of an equity draughtsman; two letters of Lord Keeper Williams, and a very curious letter to Jeffreys when Recorder of London, showing the detestation in which he was held even in that period of his career. I earnestly implore that errors and omissions may still be pointed out to me.

I have made considerable progress with my SECOND SERIES; and I trust that Volumes IV. and V. will be published before the end of the present year. These will bring down the Chancellors to the death of Lord Thurlow. A supplemental Volume, including Lord Loughborough, Lord Erskine, and Lord Eldon, will complete the work. I then propose (life and health being preserved to me) to proceed with the "LIVES OF THE LORD CHANCELLORS OF IRELAND,” among whom are to be found char

and whose

acters as interesting as any I have yet described, history, I think, may be made to shed a new light upon the connection between the two countries.

Stratheden House,

April 22, 1846.

CONTENTS

OF

THE FIRST VOLUME.

INTRODUCTION.

OF THE ORIGIN, FUNCTIONS, AND JURISDICTION OF THE OFFICE OF LORD

CHANCELLOR IN ENGLAND.

Juris-

Pro-

Etymology of Word "Chancellor,"Page 37. Antiquity of the Office in England,

38. Original Duty of Chancellor to frame Writs, 39. And Royal Grants, 39.

Custody of Great Seal, 39. Chancellor Keeper of King's Conscience, 39. Chan-

cellor formerly subordinate Officer, without judicial Power, 40. Common-law

Jurisdiction of Chancellor, 41. Equitable Jurisdiction, 42. Objections to Anti-

quity of Equitable Jurisdiction, 42. Definition of Equitable Jurisdiction, 42. Ex-

tension of Equitable Jurisdiction of Chancellor, 43. From Inrolments in Chancery

under Recognisance, 43. Fees, &c., 44. Harmony between Common Law and

Equity, 45. Discretion of Chancellor, 45. Appeal from Chancellor as Equity

Judge, 45. Habeas Corpus and Prohibitions, 46. Ne exeat Regno, 47.

diction over Coroners, 47. Criminal Jurisdiction, 47. Bankruptcy, 47. Lunacy,

47. Chancellor not ex officio Privy Councillor, 49. Speaker of Lords, 49.

tection and Precedence, 49. Chancellor no Vote or Voice in Lords unless a Peer,

50. Anciently addressed two Houses at Meeting of Parliament, 50. Trial of

Peers, and Impeachments, 50. Star Chamber, 51. Trial of the Pyx, 51. Chan-

cellor appoints Justices of Peace, 51. Patronage, 52. Visitor, 52. Other Func-

tions, 52. Office of "Keeper of the Great Seal," 52. Lords Commissioners of

Great Seal 53. Present Title of Lord Chancellor, 54. Mode of Appointment, 54.

Tenure of Office, 54. Mode of using Great Seal, 55. Negociation of Marriage

of Henry VI. under Great Seal, 55. Use of Great Seal by Edward IV, 56.

Times of Tudors and Stuarts, 56. Use of Great Seal since the Revolution of 1688

57. Origin of Expression of "The Seals," 57. Adoption of new Great Seal, 57.

Care in keeping the Great Seal, 58. Emoluments of Office, 58. Etiquette, 59.

In Parliament, 59. When administering Oaths to Prince of Wales, 59. To

King's younger Son, 59. To Peers in Chancery, 59. Lord Mayor's Day, 59.

Statute respecting Apparel of Chancellor, 60.

CHAPTER I.

OF THE CHANCELLORS UNDER THE ANGLO-SAXON KINGS.

Merits of the Anglo-Saxons, 61. AUGMENDUS, Chancellor to Ethelbert, 61. St.
SWITHIN, Chancellor to Egbert and Ethelwulf, 61. TURKETEL, Chancellor
under Edward the Elder, 63. Athelstan, 64. Battle of Brunenburgh, 64. Ed-

mund and Edred, 64. Lord Chancellor Turketel becomes a Monk, 64. ADUL

PHUS, 65. ALFRIC, 65. Office of Chancellor divided between three Abbots, 65.

Great Seal of Edward the Confessor,66. LEOFRIC, Chancellor to the Confessor, 66.

WULWIUS, 66. REIMBALDUS, 66. Vice-Chancellor Swardus, 66. Origin of

Masters in Chancery, 67.

CHAPTER II.

OF THE CHANCELLORS FROM THE CONQUEST TO THE REIGN OF HENRY II.

Chancellors under early Norman Reigns, 67. Chancellors of the Conqueror, 69.

MAURICE, 69. Made Bishop of London, and resigns Great Seal, 69. Conduct.

of Ex-chancellor Maurice on the death of William Rufus, 70, OSMOND, 70.

His Character, 70. His literary Works, 71. ARFASTUS, 71. BALDRICK, 71.

HERMAN, 72. WELSON, 72. W. GIFFARD, Chancellor under three Reigns,

72. His Character, 72 Conduct of Giffard on Death of Conqueror, 73.

Chancellor to William Rufus, 73 Dismissed, 73. BLOET, Chancellor to Wil-

liam Rufus, 73. Death and Character of Bloet, 74. FLAMBARD, 74. Oppres-

sions of Flambard, 75. Plot against Flambard, 75. His Preferments, 75. Com-

mitted to the Tower, 75. Exile and Death of Flambard, 76. GIFFARD, Chan-

cellor the third time, 76. Dismissal and Banishment of Giffard, 77. ROGER,

Bishop of Salisbury, Chancellor, 77. His Origin and History. 77. Roger's Rise,

77. His Conduct as Chancellor, 78. Made Chief Justiciar, 78. Roger's Con-

duct on Settlement of the Crown, 78. Dismissal of Roger 79. Roger supports

Usurpation of Stephen, 79. Roger besieged in his Castle, 79 Surrenders

79. His Death, 79. His Career described by William of Malmesbury, 79.

Other Chancellors of Henry I., 80. GEOFFREY RUFUS, 80. Bought Office of

Chancellor, 80. RANULPHUS, 81. Roger, Chancellor to King Stephen, suc-

ceeded by his Nephew ALEXANDER, 82. His Conduct as Chancellor, 82,

Character of Alexander, 82. ROGER PAUPER, Chancellor, 82. Queen Ma-

tilda, 83. FITZGILBERT her Chancellor, 82. Other Chancellors of Stephen, 83.

CHAPTER III.

LIFE OF LORD CHANCELLOR THOMAS à BECKET.

Parentage, 84. Story of his Mother being the daughter of an Emir, 84. Birth and

Education, 85. Holds Office under Sheriff of London, 85. Patronised by Theo-

bald, Archbishop of Canterbury, 85. Made Archdeacon of Canterbury, 86.

Mission to Rome, 86. Appointed Chancellor, 87. Intimacy with Henry II. 87.

His Duties as Chancellor, 88. Fitzstephen's Account of his Habits, 88. Story of

the King, the Chancellor, and the Beggarman, 89. Ilis Conduct as Chancellor,

90. Becket Tutor to the Prince, 90. Becket's Embassy to France, 90. Origin

of Scutage, 92. Becket's Military Prowess, 93 Siege of Toulouse, 93. Single

Combat with Engleran de Trie, 93. His judicial Merits, 94. His Views and In-

tentions, 94. Conversation with Prior of Leicester, 95. Death of Archbishop

Theobald, 95. Objection to Becket's Appointment as Archbishop, on the ground

of his being hostile to the Church, 95. Foliot, Bishop of Hereford, Rival of

Becket, 96. Becket elected Archbishop of Canterbury, 96. Becket conse-

crated Archbishop, 96. Sudden Alteration in Becket's Character and Conduct, 97.

He resigns the Great Seal, 97. The King and Becket meet and quarrel, 97.

Struggle between Civil and Ecclesiastical Authority, 100. Conference between

the King and the Prelates, 100. Constitutions of Clarendon, 100. Becket

swears to Constitutions of Clarendon, 100. Great Council at Northampton, 101.

Trial of Becket, 101, Found Guilty, 101. Further Proceedings against him, 101.

He escapes to the Continent, 102. Becket takes refuge in the Abbey of Pontigny,

103. Measures of the King, 103. Becket goes to Rome, 103. Coronation of

King's son by Archbishop of York against Papal Bull, 104. Interview between

Becket and Henry at Fereitville, 105. Peace of Fereitville, 105. Henry refuses

Becket the Kiss of Peace, 105. Henry breaks his Engagement, 106. Becket

resolves on Vengeance, 106. Becket returns to England, 106. Reception at

Canterbury, 107. Visit to London, 107. Is ordered back to Canterbury, 107.

Excommunicates the three Prelates, 108. Arrival at Canterbury of four Knights

sworn to assassinate Becket, 108. They enter his Presence, 108. Calm and

courageous Conduct of Becket, 108. Assassination of Becket, 109. Horror of

the People, 110. Becket canonised, 110. Quo Warranto by Henry VIII. to un-

saint Becket, 110. Character of Becket, 111. By his Vituperators, 111. By

his Eulogists, 112. Just Estimate of his Character, 113. Result, 113. Whether

Becket Champion of Saxon Race, 113. Becket's Letters, 113.

CHAPTER IV.

CHANCELLORS FROM THE RESIGNATION OF THOMAS à BECKET TO THE

DEATH OF HENRY II.

GEOFFREY

Obscure Chancellors after Becket, 114. Chancellor JOHN, 114.

PLANTAGENET, Chancellor, 115. His Birth and Education, 115. A Bishop,

115. His Military Exploits, 115. Receives Great Seal, 116. His Conduct as

Chancellor, 116. His filial Piety, 117. State of Law during Reign of Henry II.

117.

119.

CHAPTER V.

CHANCELLORS DURING THE REIGN OF RICHARD I.

Geoffrey made Archbishop of York, 118. LONGCHAMP, Chancellor, 118. Rich-

ard I. sails for the Holy Land, 118. Longchamp imprisons the Bishop of Durham,

His Tyranny, 119. His Rapacity, 119.
Prince John takes arms against

him, 120. Geoffrey, the Ex-chancellor, invades England, 120. Geoffrey defeated

and imprisoned, 120. Combination of the Nobles against Longchamp, 120.

Saxon Inhabitants of London called in to assist, 121. Longchamp surrenders,

122. Longchamp flies in the Disguise of a female Pedlar, 122 Is seized by the

Mob, 122. Arrives in France, 122. Visits Cœur de Lion in Captivity, 123.

Geoffrey Plantagenet again Chancellor, 123. Subsequent Fate of Geoffrey Plan-

tagenet, 123.
His Exile and Death, 123. Longchamp again Chancellor, 123.

Parliament at Nottingham, 123. Longchamp forges Letter from "The Old Man

of the Mountain" to clear Richard of Murder of Marquis of Montferrat, 124. Re-

signs Great Seal, 124 His Death, 125. EUSTACE, Bishop of Ely, Chancellor,

125. Origin of Vice-chancellors, 125 Vice-chancellors John de Alencon and

Malchien, 125. Vice-chancellor Bennet, 126. Death of Richard I., 126. Laws

of Oleron, 126.

CHAPTER VI.

OF THE CHANCELLORS DURING THE REIGN OF KING JOHN.

Accession of John, 127. HUBERT, Archbishop of Canterbury, Chancellor, 127.

Death of Lord Chancellor, 128. Great Seal so'd to WALTER DE GRAY, 129.

His Conduct, 129. Vice-chancellor Wallys, 129. Surrender of England to the

Pope, 130. De Gray, Bishop of Worcester and Archbishop of York, 131. His

Ignorance, 131. His Death and Character, 131. RICHARD LE MARISCO,

Chancellor, 131. Magna Charta, 131. Death of King John, 132. Beginning

of Statute Law, 132.

CHAPTER VII.

CHANCELLORS DURING THE REIGN OF HENRY III. TILL THE APPOINTMENT

OF QUEEN ELEANOR AS LADY KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL.

MARISCO, 132.

Confirmation of the Great Charter, 133. Ralph de Neville, Vice-

chancellor, 133. Misconduct of Vice-chancellor De Neville, 133. Letter of Re-

monstrance from the Chancellor to the Vice-chancellor, 133. DE NEVILLE,

Chancellor, 135. Grant to him of Office of Chancellor for Life, 135. He is

likewise made Chancellor of Ireland, 136. And Guardian of Realm, 136. Dis-

appointed of the Primacy, 136. Triumph of Peter de Rupibus, 136. De Neville

deprived of Great Seal, 137. "SIMON THE NORMAN," Chancellor, 138. Dis-

missed for Honesty, 137. De Neville restored to the Office of Chancellor, 138.

His Death, 138. His Character, 138. Statute of Merton, 138. Attempt by

Parliament to acquire Right of appointing Chancellor, 138. RANULPH BRITON,

Chancellor, 13). JOHN MAUNSEL, Chancellor, 140. Origin of the Dispensing

Power in England, 140. This Chancellor the greatest Pluralist on Record, 140.

JOHN DE LEXINGTON, Chancellor, 140. Complaint in Parliament that Chancel-

lor not more consulted, 141. Petition to remove him, 141. King's Answer, 141.

CHAPTER VIII.

LIFE OF QUEEN ELEANOR, LADY KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL .

QUEEN ELEANOR, Lady Keeper, 141. Her Parentage, 142. Wit and Beauty,

142. Marriage with Henry, 142 Her Unpopularity, 143. Quarrels with the

Citizens of London, 143 Birth of Edward I., 143. She receives the Great Seal,

6th August, 1253, 144 Her Conduct as Lady Keeper, 144. Her Accouchement

144. Her Exaction of "Queen Gold," 144. A Parliament, 145. She resigns

the Great Seal, 145. Ballads upon her, 145. Pelted by the London Mob, 146.

She flies abroad, 146. Returns to England, 146. Takes the Veil, 146. Her

Death, 146. Her Character, 146.

CHAPTER IX.

LORD CHANCELLORS FROM THE RESIGNATION OF LADY KEEPER QUEEN EL-

EANOR TILL THE DEATH OF HENRY III.

Reprimand to the Clergy, 147. Kil-

Spain, 148. Death, 148. HENRY DE

Provisions of Oxford," 148. NICH-

WILLIAM DE KILKENNY, Chancellor, 147.

kenny's Resignation, 147. Embassy to

WENGHAM, 148. Mad Parliament, 148.

OLAS DE ELY made Chancellor by the Barons, 148. King recovers his Author-

ity, 149. A Parliament, 149. WALTER DE MERTON, Chancellor, 149. His-

tory of De Merton, 150. Keepers of Seal, 150. Public Confusion, 150. Writs

for Simon de Montfort's Parliament, 149. Henry III., 151. Reference to King of

France, 151. His Award, 151. Battle of Lewes, 152. Meeting of Simon de

Montfort's Parliament, 152. Origin of House of Commons, 152. THOMAS DE

CANTILUPE, Chancellor, 153. His Salary, 153. Battle of Evesham, 154. Death

of Cantilupe, 154. WALTER GIFFARD, Chancellor, 154. Resigns, being made

Archbishop of York, 155. GODFREY GIFFARD, Chancellor, 155. Removed

for Incompetency, 155. JOHN DE CHISHULL, Chancellor, 155. RICHARD DE

MIDDLETON. Chancellor, 156. Prince Edward in the Holy Land, 156. John

de Kirby, Keeper of Great Seal, 157. Character of Chancellors during Reign of

Henry III, 157. Bracton, Merits of, 158. Abolition of Office of Chief Justiciar

158. Disruption of Aula Regia, 158. Chancellor now Head of Law, 159.