In 1344 Bishop Thomas of Hatfield (age 34) was appointed Lord Keeper of the Great Seal which office he held until July 1345.

Around 1590 Unknown Painter. Portrait of Mary Egerton Baroness Leigh as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal.

Mary Egerton Baroness Leigh: Around 1595 she was born to Thomas Egerton and Isabella Venables. On 11 Nov 1610 Thomas Leigh 1st Baron Leigh and she were married. On 01 Jul 1643 Thomas Leigh 1st Baron Leigh was created 1st Baron Leigh of Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. She by marriage Baroness Leigh of Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. In 1669 Mary Egerton Baroness Leigh died.

Around 1626 Cornelius Johnson (age 32). Portrait of Thomas Coventry 1st Baron Coventry (age 48) as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. Charlecote Park.

Evelyn's Diary. 26 May 1671. The Earl of Bristol's (age 58) house in Queen's Street was taken for the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, and furnished with rich hangings of the King's (age 40). It consisted of seven rooms on a floor, with a long gallery, gardens, etc. This day we met the Duke of Buckingham (age 43), Earl of Lauderdale (age 55), Lord Culpeper, Sir George Carteret (age 61), Vice-Chamberlain, and myself, had the oaths given us by the Earl of Sandwich (age 45), our President. It was to advise and counsel his Majesty (age 40), to the best of our abilities, for the well-governing of his Foreign Plantations, etc., the form very little differing from that given to the Privy Council. We then took our places at the Board in the Council-Chamber, a very large room furnished with atlases, maps, charts, globes, etc. Then came the Lord Keeper, Sir Orlando Bridgeman (age 65), Earl of Arlington (age 53), Secretary of State, Lord Ashley, Mr. Treasurer (age 40), Sir John Trevor (age 34), the other Secretary, Sir John Duncomb (age 49), Lord Allington (age 31), Mr. Grey, son to the Lord Grey, Mr. Henry Broncher, Sir Humphrey Winch (age 49), Sir John Finch, Mr. Waller (age 65), and Colonel Titus (age 48), of the bedchamber, with Mr. Slingsby, Secretary to the Council, and two Clerks of the Council, who had all been sworn some days before. Being all set, our Patent was read, and then the additional Patent, in which was recited this new establishment; then, was delivered to each a copy of the Patent, and of instructions: after which, we proceeded to business.

Evelyn's Diary. 10 May 1700. The great trial between Sir Walter Clarges (age 46) and Mr. Sherwin concerning the legitimacy of the late Duke of Albemarle, on which depended an estate of £1,500 a year; the verdict was given for Sir Walter (age 46), 19th. Serjeant Wright (age 46) at last accepted the Great Seal.

Evelyn's Diary. 01 Oct 1705. Mr. Cowper (age 40) made Lord Keeper. Observing how uncertain great officers are of continuing long in their places, he would not accept it, unless £2,000 a year were given him in reversion when he was put out, in consideration of his loss of practice. His predecessors, how little time soever they had the Seal, usually got £100,000 and made themselves Barons. A new Secretary of State. Lord Abington (age 32), Lieutenant of the Tower, displaced, and General Churchill (age 49), brother to the Duke of Marlborough (age 55), put in. An indication of great unsteadiness somewhere, but thus the crafty Whig party (as called) begin to change the face of the Court, in opposition to the High Churchmen, which was another distinction of a party from the Low Churchmen. The Parliament chose one Mr. Smith, Speaker. There had never been so great an assembly of members on the first day of sitting, being more than 450. The votes both of the old, as well as the new, fell to those called Low Churchmen, contrary to all expectation.

1763. William Hoare (age 56). Portrait of Philip Yorke 1st Earl of Hardwicke (age 72) wearing the Robes of Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and holding the Great Seal.