In English eccleslastlcal law. The primate of all England; the chief ecclesiastical digni-tary in the church. Hls customary privilege is to crown tlie kings and queens of England; while the Archbishop of York bas the prlvl-lege to crown the queen consort, and be her perpetual chaplain. The Archblshop of Can-terbury has also, by £5 Hen. VIII. c. 21, the power of granting dlspensatlons in any case not coutrary to the holy scriptures and the law of God, where the pope used formerly to graut them, which is the foundation of his granting special licenses to marry at any place or time; to hold two llvings, (which must be confirmed under the great seal.) and the like; and on this also is founded the right he exercises of conferring degrees in prejudice of the two universities, wharton.
Source: Black's Law Dictionary 2nd Ed (1910)
