What did a chamberlain do in Elizabethan times?

Answer 1

The Lord Chamberlain was the equivalent of the monarch's Chief of Staff. He implemented the wishes of the king or queen and organized the royal household. He also served as censor, overseeing he publication of books and the performances of plays, making sure that nothing seditious made it into public.

Answer 2

Chamberlain - The title originated with an officer of a royal household who was responsible for the Chamber, which included the administration of the Queen's household's budget. This occupation was later extended to collecting revenues and paying expenses

Answer 3

A chamberlain was the guy who looked after the management of a large house. In the case of royalty, their chamberlains have a very large house indeed to look after, and often more than one, so the chamberlain is involved with suppliers and advisors to the monarch. The chamberlain controlled the monarch's private access and expenditures, and therefore this was a position of some authority. The chamberlain sat on the Privy Council as a cabinet minister, had duties in the opening of parliament and was sometimes the monarch's spokesman.