an officer whose business it is constantly to attend the Lord Chancellor in person or by deputy, and to write and prepare for the great seal special matters of state by commission, both ordinary and extraordinary, as commissions of lieutenancy, of justices of assize, of oyer and terminer, of jail-delivery, and of the peace; as also all general pardons, granted either at the king's coronation or in parliament; and the writs of parliament, with the names of the knights, citizens, and burgesses, are returned into his office. He also makes out special pardons and writs of execution on bonds of statute-staple forfeited.