Legal Definitions - Clerk of the Privy Seal

The Clerk of the Privy Seal was a historical government official in the United Kingdom, whose role was abolished in 1884. This officer was responsible for drafting, preparing, and processing official documents that were to be authenticated with the Privy Seal, under the direction of the Lord Privy Seal. The Privy Seal itself was a royal seal, distinct from the more formal Great Seal of the Realm, and was used for a range of royal commands, grants, and administrative instruments that did not require the highest level of formality.

• Example 1: Royal Grant of Privilege

  Imagine a scenario in 17th-century England where the monarch wished to grant a specific trading privilege to a guild of merchants. The Lord Privy Seal would receive the royal command to authorize this grant. The Clerk of the Privy Seal would then be tasked with meticulously drafting the formal letters patent, ensuring all legal language was precise and the terms of the privilege were accurately recorded. This document, once prepared by the clerk, would then be presented for the application of the Privy Seal, thereby officially bestowing the royal favor upon the merchants.

  This example illustrates the Clerk's role in translating a royal decision into a formal, legally sound document ready for authentication by the Privy Seal.

• Example 2: Diplomatic Instructions

  Consider a situation in the early 19th century where the British government needed to issue specific instructions to an ambassador serving abroad regarding a delicate negotiation. While major treaties would require the Great Seal, less formal but still official diplomatic directives might be authenticated with the Privy Seal. The Lord Privy Seal would approve the content of these instructions. The Clerk of the Privy Seal would then be responsible for writing out the official dispatch, ensuring it accurately reflected the government's policy and was formatted correctly for official transmission. Once prepared, it would be sealed to confirm its authenticity and authority.

  This demonstrates the Clerk's function in preparing official governmental communications that carried the authority of the Crown through the Privy Seal.