CAMPION _lane_, Thames street.† _Lord High_ CHANCELLOR, the supreme and sole judge in the court of Chancery, where he is to judge according to equity and conscience, and to moderate the exact rigour and letter of the common law, to which all other judges are strictly tied; but his decrees may be reversed by the house of Lords. This great officer, who is assisted by the masters in Chancery, takes precedency after the Archbishop of Canterbury, and next to the King, and Princes of the blood, is the highest person in the kingdom in civil affairs. The Lord High Chancellor is generally Keeper of the great seal, and is thence stiled Lord Keeper. See the article _Lord_ KEEPER. CHANCELLOR _of the Exchequer_. See the article EXCHEQUER. CHANCELLOR _of St. Paul’s_, an officer anciently called _Magister Scholarum_, from his having the literature of the city committed to his care, by which he was impowered to license all the schoolmasters in London, except those of St. Martin’s le Grand, and Mary le Bow; but at present he is only Secretary to the Chapter, and has the third stall on the north side of the choir. _Court of_ CHANCERY. In the opinion of several learned men this court took its name from the cross bars of iron or wood, called by the Romans _cancelli_, with which it was formerly inclosed, to prevent the officers being incommoded by the crowding of the people. The Chancery consists of two courts, in one of which the Lord Chancellor proceeds according to the laws and statutes of the kingdom, and in the second, according to equity, judging rather by the spirit than the letter of the laws. In case of absence, his place upon the bench is supplied by the Master of the rolls, who also determines causes in the same equitable manner. See the article _Lord_ CHANCELLOR. It is the peculiar business of this court to rescue people out of the hands of their oppressors, and to afford relief in case of fraud, accidents, and breach of trust. Besides, out of this court are issued writs for parliaments, charters, patents for sheriffs, writs of _certiorari_ to remove records and false judgments in inferior courts, writs of _moderata misericordia_, when a person has been amerced too high, and for a reasonable part of goods for widows and orphans. Here also are sealed and enrolled, treaties with foreign Princes, letters patent, commissions of appeal, oyer and terminer, &c. The manner of proceeding here is much like that in the courts of the civil law; for the actions are by bill or plaint; the witnesses are privately examined; there is no jury, but all the sentences are given by the judge of the court. However as it proceeds not according to law, it is no court of record, and therefore binds only the person, his lands and goods.