nd 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.

146. Tallies.

All accounts were kept by the Treasurer on tallies or small sticks,
notched on the opposite sides to represent different sums. These were
split lengthwise. One was given as a receipt to the sheriff, or other
person paying in money to the treasury, while the duplicate of this
tally was held by the Treasurer. This primitive method of keeping
royal accounts remained legally in force until 1785, in the reign of
George III.

147. The Curia Regis,[2] or the King's Court of Justice.

The Chief Justice and Chancellor were generally chosen by the King
from among the clergy; first, because the clergy were men of
education, while the barons were not; and next, because it was not
expedient to intrust too much power to the barons. These officials,
with the other members of the Private Council, constituted the King's
High Court of Justice.

[2] Curia Regis: This name was given, at different times, first, to
the Great or National Council; secondly, to the King's Private
Council; and lastly, to the High Court of Justice, consisting of
members of the Private Council.

It followed the King as he moved from place to place, to hear and
decide cases carried up by appeal from the county courts, together
with other questions of importance.[1] In local government the
country remained under the Normans essentially the same as it had been
before the Conquest. The King continued to be represented in each
county by an officer called the sheriff, who collected the taxes and
enforced the laws.