ABSTRACT
As the new Lord Steward, Pembroke held the highest office in the Household, an office of more status than that of Lord Chamberlain, though of less political importance. The Lord Steward’s domain consisted of the twenty departments of the Household and their staffs, excepting the Chamber and the stables. In July 1628 it had been rumoured that Pembroke would be given a dukedom and Montgomery named as Lord Steward. Buckingham agreed to Pembroke’s advancement to the office of Lord Steward, and acquiesced in Montgomery’s replacement of his brother as the new Lord Chamberlain. The Lord Steward supervised the Board of Green Cloth but was not bound by its decisions. Even in poor health, Pembroke remained an active Privy Councillor and Lord Steward, and fulfilled his offices of Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Somerset and Wiltshire. From 1618 Pembroke on had been offered many higher offices, but he had tenaciously held out for his brother to succeed him as Lord Chamberlain.
