is a lord by his office, and styled lord keeper of the great seal of Great Britain; he is always one of the privy-council. All grants, charters, and commissions of the king under the great seal, pass through the hands of the lord-keeper; for without that seal many of those grants, &c. would be of no force; the king being, in the interpretation of the law, a corporation, and therefore passes nothing but by the great seal, which is also said to be the public faith of the kingdom, being in the highest esteem and reputation.

Whenever there is a lord-keeper, he is invested with the same place, authority, pre-eminence, jurisdiction, or execution of laws, as the lord-chancellor of Great Britain is vested with.

The lord-keeper is constituted by the delivery of the great seal, &c.