an officer charged with the management and direction of a chamber. See CHAMBER, in policy.

There are almost as many kinds of chamberlains as chambers, the principal whereof are as follows.

Lord Chamberlain of Great Britain, the fifth great officer of the crown; to whom belongs livery and lodging in the king's court; and there are certain fees due to him from each archbishop or bishop, when they perform their homage to the king; and from all peers at their creation, or doing their homage. At the coronation of every king, he is to have forty ells of crimson velvet for his own robes. This officer, on the coronation-day, is to bring the king his shirt, coif, and wearing cloaths; and after the king is dressed, he claims his bed, and all the furniture of his chamber for his fees: he also carries at the coronation, the coif, gloves, and linen to be used by the king on that occasion; also the sword and scabbard, the gold to be offered by the king, and the robes-royal and crown: he dresses and undresses the king on that day, waits on him before and after dinner, &c.

To this officer belongs the care of providing all things in the house of lords, in the time of parliament; to him also belongs the government of the palace of Westminster: he disposes likewise of the sword of state, to be carried before the king, to what lord he pleases. Lord Chamberlain of the household, an officer who has the oversight and direction of all officers belonging to the king's chambers, except the precinct of the king's bed-chamber.

He has the oversight of the officers of the wardrobe at all his majesty's houses, and of the removing wardrobes, or of beds, tents, revels, music, comedians, hunting, messengers, &c. retained in the king's service. He moreover has the oversight and direction of the sergeants at arms, of all physicians, apothecaries, surgeons, barbers, the king's chaplain, &c. and administers the oath to all officers above stairs.

Other chamberlains, are those of the king's court of exchequer, of North Wales, of Chester, of the city of London, &c. in which cases this officer is generally the receiver of all rents and revenues belonging to the place whereof he is chamberlain.

In the exchequer there are two chamberlains, who keep a controulment of the pells of receipts and exitus, and have certain keys of the treasury, records, &c.

Chamberlain of London keeps the city-money, which is laid up in the chamber of London: he also presides over the affairs of masters and apprentices, and makes free of the city, &c.

His office lasts only a year, but the custom usually obtains to re-choose the same person, unless charged with any misdemeanor in his office.