Director of Chancery

The office of Director of Chancery (or Chancellory), the keeper of the Quarter Seal of Scotland, was formerly a senior position within the legal system of Scotland. The medieval post, latterly an office at General Register House, Edinburgh, was abolished by the Reorganisation of Offices (Scotland) Act 1928 and provision made for the functions to be transferred to the Keeper of the Registers and Records of Scotland, the Principal Extractor of the Court of Session, the Sheriff Clerk of Chancery and the sheriff clerks of counties. The Scottish chancery was responsible for draughting, issuing and recording royal charters (e.g. charters of novodamus), patents of dignities (see Letters patent), gifts of offices, remissions, legitimations, presentations, commissions, brieves (brief warrants) and ...