The seal was adopted by
Edward the Confessor, and its custody was at first entrusted to a
chancellor. The office of chancellor from the time of
Thomas Becket onwards varied much in importance. The holder being a churchman, he was not only engaged in the business of his
diocese, but was sometimes away from England. Consequently, it became not unusual to place the personal custody of the great seal in the hands of a
vice-chancellor or
keeper; this was also the practice followed during a temporary vacancy in the chancellorship. This office gradually developed into a permanent appointment, and the lord keeper acquired the right of discharging all the duties connected with the great seal. He was usually, though not necessarily, a
peer, and held office during the
king's pleasure. He was appointed merely by delivery of the seal, and not, like the chancellor, by
patent. which declared him entitled to
like place, pre-eminence, jurisdiction, execution of laws, and all other customs, commodities, and advantages as the
Lord Chancellor. In subsequent reigns the lord keeper was generally raised to the chancellorship, and retained the custody of the seal. The last lord keeper was
Robert Henley, afterwards Earl of Northington, who was made chancellor on the accession of
George III. == See also ==