There was also a second and permanent council, called the King's
Council. The three leading officers of this were: first, the Chief
Justice, who superintended the execution of the laws, represented the
King, and ruled for him during his absence from the country; secondly,
the Lord Chancellor (so called from cancelli, the screen behind which
he sat with his clerks), who acted as the King's adviser and
confidential secretary, and as keeper of the Great Seal, with which he
stamped all important papers;[1] thirdly, the Lord High Treasurer, who
took charge of the King's revenue, received all moneys due the Crown,
and kept the King's treasure in the vaults at Winchester or
Westminster.
[1] The Lord Chancellor was also the "Keeper of the King's
Conscience," because intrusted with the duty of redressing those
grievances of the King's subjects which required royal interference.
The Court of Chancery (mentioned on page 73, note 1) grew out of this
office.