Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-05
STAR CHAMBER STORIES.
Modes of Procedure Before that Infa.
nous Tribunal.


This odious court, named from the ceiling of
the chamber being anciently ornamented with
gilded stars is not mentioned as a court of
justice earlier than the reign Of Henry VII,
about which time the old titles of /" the
Lords sitting in the star-chamber," and the
council in the star-chamber, seem to have
been merged into the one distinguished appel
latiOn of the star-chamber." The judges, be-
fore and subsequent to this alteration, were
"the lords of the council" as they are still
termed in the htany of the church service.
The modes of proceeding before the cOun-
Gil were by the mouth, or by bill and
answer After the sittings the lords
dined In the inner star-chamber at the public
expense In political cases. ''Soden reporte,"
rs IL was called, is thought to have meant pri-
vate and secret information given to the cOun-
Gil The person accused or suspected was i'm
mediately apprehended and privately examined.
III he confessed any offense, or il the cunning
examiner drew from him. or he let fall, any ex-
pressions which suited their purpose, he was at
once brought to the bar, his confession or exam
nation was read. he was convicted out of his
own mouth, aud judgment was Immediately
pronounced against him. Upon admissions of
fmmaterial circumstances thus aggravated and
distorted into confessions of guilt, the Earl of
Northumberland was prosecuted by word Of
mouth in the star-chamber for being privy to
the GunpOwder Plot, and was sentenced to pay
. fine Of 100000 and be imprisoned for life.
The star-chamber held its sittings from the
end OF Queen EliZabeth's reign until the final
abolition OF the court by Parliament In 1641,
In apartments on the eastern side Of New
Palace Yard; the buildings bore the date 16O2,
and T.. K and an open rose on star; they cor
respond with the STARE chamber" in Aggas'
plan of London i'm 1870. The last Of the build
ing was taken down in 1885. Drawings were
then made of the court, which had an enriched
ceiling; but no remains Of the star ornamental
tions. notwithstanding behind the Elizabethan
panelng the style of the chamber was Tudor
Gothic The remains are preserved at LeasOme
Castle, the seat of the Hon. Sir Edward Gust in
Chesire. Imagination can scarcely picture
more terrible judcature. This tribunal was
offences it punished; the Judges were, In point
of fact. the prosecutor, and every mixture of
those two characters is inconsistent with impair
tial justice Crimes of the greatest magnitude
were treated in this court. but solely punished
Is uespasSes, the council not having
dared to usurp the power of INJECTING death.
Among the many abuses of the process was
that in the time Of Queen Elizabeth s'many
solicitors who lived in Wales, Cornwall or the
farthest parts of the north, did make a trade to
sue forth multitude of subpnnas to vex their
neighbors who rather than they would travel to
London. would give them any composition
though there were no color Of complaint against
Them" The highest number Of the council who
attended the court in the reigns of Henry VII.
and VIII. was nearly forty, of whom seven or
eight were prelates; in the reign of Elizabeth the
number was nearly thirty, but it subsequently
declined The chancellor was the supreme
judge, and alone sat with his head uncovered
Upon important occasions, persons who wished
ITO get convenient places and Standing went
there by O'Clock in the morning The
counsel were confined to .'laconical
brevity;" the examinations OF the witnesses
were read, and the members Of the court
delivered their opinions In order, from
the inferior upwards the archbishop preceding
the chancellor. Every punishment, except
death, was assumed to be in the power of the
far-chamber court Pillory, fine and imprison-
ment, and whipping. wearing of papers through
Westminster Hall, and letters scared In the
face with hot irons" were ordinary punish
ments. Henry VII. had fondness for sitting in
the star-chamber; the court was the great
instrument for his 'extort doynge," and 'the
king took the matter into his own hands" was a
star-chamber phrase; and "my attorney must
SPEAK to you" was a sure prelude to o heavy
nne. Wolsey made a great show of his magnif-
eence In the star-chamber; he proceeded to the
sttings Of the court in great state his mace and
seal being carried before him; 'he spared neither
high nor low, but judged every estate according
TO their merits and deserts" After his fall. with
the exception OF occasional interference in
religious matters and matters Of police, we
seldom hear Of the star-chamber. -Erfracts
from Ilnlbs' Romance of London