Lord high CHANCELLOR of Great Britain, or Lord keeper of the great seal, is the highest honour of the long robe, being made so per traditionem magni sigilli, per dominum regem, and by taking the oaths: He is the first person of the realm next after the king, and princes of the blood, in all civil affairs; and is the chief administrator of justice, next the sovereign, being the judge of the court of chancery.
All other justices are tied to the strict rules of the law in their judgment: But the chancellor is invested with the king's absolute power, to moderate the written law, governing his judgment purely by the law of nature and conscience, and ordering all things according to equity and justice. In this respect Stanford says, the chancellor has two powers, one absolute, the other ordinary: Meaning, that although by his ordinary power, in some cases, he must observe the forms of proceedings, as other inferior judges; yet in his absolute power, he is not limited by the law, but by conscience and equity.
The lord chancellor not only keeps the king's great seal; but also all patents, commissions, warrants, &c. from the king, are, before they are signed, perused by him: He has the disposition of all ecclesiastical benefices
nefices in the gift of the crown under 201. a year, in the king's books; and he is speaker of the house of lords. See PARLIAMENT.