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CLERK OF THE CROWN

Volume 2 · 170 words · 1771 Edition

officer, in the king's bench, who frames, reads, and records all indictments against offenders, there arraigned or indicted of any public crime. He is likewise termed clerk of the crown-office, in which capacity he exhibits informations by order of the court, for divers offences. Clerk of the crown, in chancery, an officer whose business it is constantly to attend the lord chancellor, in person or by deputy, to write and prepare for the great seal special matters of state by commission, both ordinary and extraordinary, viz. commissions of lieutenancy, of justices of assize, oyer and terminer, goal-delivery, and of the peace; all general pardons, granted either at the king's coronation, or in parliament: the writs of parliament, with the names of the knights, citizens, and burgesses, are also returned into his office. He also makes out special pardons, and writs of execution on bonds of statute-staple forfeited.

Clerk of the deliveries, an officer of the tower, whose function is to take indentures for all stores and ammunition issued from thence.