Offices.

Lord Chamberlain

The Lord Chamberlain was in charge of the household above stairs. He arranged all court entertainments, progresses, lodgings in the palace, received visitors. He had a lot of control over who saw the King. He carried a white staff. He was assisted by a vice-chamberlain.

Henry VII had two Chamberlains: Sir William Stanley, until his treachery of 1492; then Charles Somerset, Earl of Worcester.

The Lord Chamberlain at the moment is the Marquis of Cholmondeley (pronounced Chumlee, would you believe...)

Lord Steward

He was in charge of the below-stairs workings of the household - the kitchens etc. He also managed the royal household accounts.

John, Lord FitzWalter 1485-7

Sir Robert Willoughby (Lord Willoughby de Broke) 1487-1502

Sir Gilbert Talbot 1502-1509

George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury 1509-1538

Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk (1541-1544)

William Paulet, Lord St John (1544-1551)

Lord Chancellor

1486-7 John Alcock, Bishop of Worcester and then Ely (1486)

1487 John Morton, Archbishop of Canterbury (d.1500).

Replaced by next two Archbishops, Henry Dean (d.1502), William Warham.

Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal

This was the equivalent of a permanent secretary - i.e. an important civil servant who was in charge of dispatching the king's orders.

1485-7 Peter Courtney, Bishop of Exeter

1487-1516 Richard Fox, Bishop of Exeter then Bath and Wells then Durham then Winchester.

Lord Treasurer

1486-1501 John, Lord Dinham

1501-1522 Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey (/Duke of Norfolk)

(The Treasurer of the Household was Sir John Heron)