is a lord by his office, 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.

Keeper of the privy seal, is also a lord by his office, through whose hands all grants, pardons, &c. pass before they come to the great seal; and even some things pass his hands which do not pass the great seal at all. This officer is also one of the privy council, yet was anciently called clerk of the privy seal. His duty is to put the seal to no grant, &c. without a proper warrant; nor with warrant where it is against law, or inconvenient, but shall first acquaint the king therewith.