What is a Chancellor and Steward ?

Question

what was the chancellor of england before the union and it became

Lord High Chancellor and what exactly did they do and what was they responsilble for ? same question goes for

Lord High Steward

Answer 1

Lord Chancellor is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State and is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Lord Chancellor performed multiple functions—he was the Keeper of the Great Seal, the chief royal chaplain, and advisor in both spiritual and temporal matters. Thus, the position emerged as one of the most important ones in government. He was only outranked in government by the Justiciar (whose post is now obsolete). One of the Lord Chancellor's responsibilities is to act as the custodian of the Great Seal. He is a member of the Cabinet and, by law, is responsible for the efficient functioning and independence of the courts. Formerly he was also the presiding officer of the House of Lords, and the head of the judiciary in England and Wales.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Chance...

The Lord Steward or Lord Steward of the Household, in England, is an important official of the Royal Household. Until 1782, the office was one of considerable political importance and carried cabinet rank. The Lord Steward receives his appointment from the Sovereign in person, and bears a white staff as the emblem and warrant of his authority. He is the first dignitary of the court. In an act of Henry VIII (1539) for placing of the lords, he is described as the grand master or lord steward of the king's most honourable household. The Master of the Household is a white-staff officer and was a member of the Board of Green Cloth but not of the ministry, and among other things he presided at the daily dinners of the suite in waiting on the sovereign.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Stewar...

Answer 2

The Chancellor was originally the keeper of the Kin g's conscience, his right hand man, keeper of the seal, whowould often hear petitions addressed to the government.  He was the top lawyer in the country.  He could make decisions not in line wioth the common law, on the grounds of fairness, and out of this rose equity.  Thus, if I stole your platypus, the law courts would get me to pay you damages, but the Chancellor could issue a writ (injunction) ordering me to give it back on pain of imprisonment.  Check out the life of Thomas Becket, who, before he went nuts, was Chancellor to Henry II.

Steward was a less specific term, and related to the management of the royal estates.  In fact, though, individuals tended to build up their offices irrespective of title.  Secretaries of State were minor officials until Thomas Cromwell became one under Henry VIII.  If you were effective, the King would put more business across your desk, and your office accordingly would become more important.

Check out Keeper of the Stool !!

Answer 3

You might find this of interest:

http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/123/...

http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/guid...

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/facts.ht...

http://www.the-orb.net/medieval_terms.ht...

http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Chancell...

http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Lord_Hig...