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 sixth great officer of the crown; to whom belong 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 clothes; and after the king is drested, 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 dispenses likewise of the sword of state, to be carried before the king, to what lord he pleases.

The great chamberlain of Scotland was ranked by King Malcolm, as the third great officer of the crown, and was called Camerarius Domini Regis. Before a treasurer was appointed, it was his duty to collect the revenue of the crown; and he disbursed the money necessary for the king's expenses, and the maintenance of the king's household. From the time that a treasurer was appointed, his province was limited to the boroughs throughout the kingdom, where he was a sort of justice general, as he had a power for judging of all crimes committed within the borough, and of the crime of foretelling. He was to hold chamberlain ayres every year. He was supreme judge; nor could any of his decrees be questioned by any inferior judiciary. His sentences were put in execution by the magistrates of the boroughs. He also regulated the price of provisions within the borough, and the fees of the workmen in the mint house. His salary was only 200l. a-year. The smallness of his salary, and his great powers, had no doubt been the causes of much oppression in this officer, and the chamberlain ayre was called rather a legal robbery than a court of justice; and when the combined lords feigned King James VI. August 24, 1584, and carried him to Ruthven Castle, they issued a proclamation in the king's name, discharging the chamberlain ayres to be kept. The chamberlain had great fees arising from the profits of elecheats, fines, tolls, and customs. This office was granted heritably to the family of Stuart duke of Lenox; and when their male line failed, King Charles II. conferred it in like manner upon his natural son, whom he created duke of Monmouth, and on his forfeiture it went to the duke of Lenox; but that family surrendered the office to the crown in 1703.

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 bedchamber.

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 chaplains, &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 case 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 controlment 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.