The Lord Chancellor (a cancellando, from his power to cancel letters patent, being the highest point of his jurisdiction) or Lord Keeper, is the chief judge in the extraordinary Court of Equity, as well as in the ordinary Court of Common Law (4 Inst. 79, 82, 88, Wood’s Inst. 2nd ed. pp. 459, 460). He is not made by letters patent, but by the delivery of the Great or Broad Seal to him, and by taking an oath to serve the king and his people faithfully in the office of Lord Chancellor (4 Inst. 87). He is made Lord Chancellor of England or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, per traditionem magni sigilli sibi per dominum regem, and by taking his oath forma cancellarium constituendi regnante Henrico Secundo fuit appendendo magnum Angliæ sigillum ad collum cancellarii electi (Camden, p. 131). Thus the delivery of the king’s seal or the taking it away, alluded to by Shakespeare in this passage, is the ceremony used in making or unmaking a Lord Chancellor. Some have gotten it by letters patent at will (35 Hen. VI. 3 b. of Winch., I Hen. VI. sec. 16) and one for term of his life (Cardinal Wolsey); but it was holden void, because an ancient office must be granted as it hath been accustomed (4 Inst. 87). _Ant. E._ What, will you murder me? Thou gaoler, thou, I am thy prisoner: wilt thou suffer them To make a rescue? _Off._ Masters, let him go: He is my prisoner, and you shall not have him. _Pinch._ Go bind this man, for he is frantic too. _Adr._ What wilt thou do, thou peevish officer? Hast thou delight to see a wretched man Do outrage and displeasure to himself? _Off._ He is my prisoner: if I let him go, The debt he owes will be requir’d of me. _Comedy of Errors_, Act iv. Scene 4.