The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-11

apartment prior to the time OF Edward
l. me contracts of tho Jews called
STAIRS" were deposited In boxes or
chests. A..
Ins scheme had good results at nrst;
Wealthy landowners VINO had oppressed
their neighbors with impunity were
brought before this court, wnere neither
fear nor favor could avail, ana trleo Ior
their offences. The greatest merit OF tue
court was that 1t was not dependent on
a Jury. for juries were unable or unwiii-
ing TO rcrder a verdict in keeping Win
their conscienccs. ,.,
one said "a court thus constituted, with
powers so broad and discretion unlliiilt-
ed by prescribed rules. though called INTO
existence like invoking the spirit Oh ms
chief without a corresponding power III
reserve to lay IL or check It's excesses'
IL inclined to abuse its authority.
Instead OF losing power as the necessl-
~ Tor its existence passed away, II grew
to itself new elements OF strength ana
enlarged the extent Of its jurisdiction. IL
became. after successive administrations,
under the hands of ambitious leaders ana
uugcrupulOus prelatcs. SUCH as silOurisn-
ed In the times of Henry Will, Elizabeth
and the two Stuarts, a most potent en-
CINE of despotic rule and Intolerance. TOT.
ture. intimidation ana other oeNlceS "cio
used 70 compel characterization.
Charles t.. through the star chamber
filled his Golfers. During his reign such
enor mOus fines were imposed for trlVidi
offences that the audience gathered about
the court room at o'clock in the morning
TO secure seats 20 hear the proceedinss
The discretionary power Of the court IN
the way OF punishment made II means
Of cruel injustice In the hands OF pau
men, instances Of which disgrace the MS
tory Of its administration during INC
reigns Of James I. and Charles l.. 80
Sir Anthony Roper was nned If'yy ior
violating a law made In the time OF hen-
~ VII. for converting arabic iahu mo
pasture. Richard Greenville SAID OF the
Earl Of SUFFOLK. with whom he had some
difficulty, that he was "A base loIu. he
was fined g. 600 for such slander. -
one of the most remarkable cases was
that OF Bishop Williams VINO nau peen
lord keeper OF the seal, popular piei s
aud a man OF learning and spirit ana az
one time a special favorite OF James ;,
While enjoying his patronage ne eNeIlsIl
his influence In behalf OF Laud. AFTER WI
Archbishop. who owed ms htst pIoulo
ton to his good offices. some ussS ,so,,Ia
mont arose between them. Nothing Woulu
satisfy Iaud but the ruin or the man VIM
had befriended him. 49,, 800,
on some slight pretext the Bishop was
brought before the star chamber anu
fined GloO00 committed 10 tne loMsi
during the Kings pleasure, and suspend
cd from Office His furniture and books
were levied upon TO pay the nne. Amon1
some refuse papers were found some let
ters from Obaldiston. a school-master' az
recied to the Bishop. In these letters lhe
writer spoke OF little grea, man, ,S
| In ono place of a little urchin.' As baud
was small OF stature, II was conlectureu
that these terms referred to him Ihey
we're both tried. one for receiving such
scandaous letters, and the other ior W VIII ~
/ ing them Williams paid me or %o'VVV
/ and Obaldiston C.. 900. and had MS cars
nailed TO the pillory in sight OF ms OWL
J school
Prvnne. a barrister at law Of Lincoln's
/ Inn a Puritan OF the strictest sect, pup
Ushed his famous "Histrio- MastiN.
huge volume of 1909 Quarto pages altne'
at stage plays, music, dancing puDli'
/ festivals. Christmas sports, bonhres, an,
/ Nav poles. For this alleged libellous VOL
/ ume he was arraigned before the std
! chamber. The trial occupied three DAYS
and tho fourth was consumed III pro
nouncing sentence against him.
! Mr. Prynne in his general sweep Tor nj
/ historical illustration OF the mlschleI o
frequenting plays referred TO Nero, an'
I spoke Of tiavius ana oihers VINO IOhspii
! cd against him for his bad example upoi
I the magistrates and the people. The che
/ Justice from this inferred that the au
/ thor intended to instigate the people q
! murder the King, and Prynne was deprlN
ed of his right OF practice as parrlster
J condemned to stand in the pillory a
| Westminster and Cheapside, 70 lose hi
ears. one al each Of these places to pa
a fine OF 5000. and to be imprisoned 70
! life.
There was hardly n man in the realm
who had not personal experience or IN
: harshness and greedness Of the sta
I chamber II became odious and not with
out reason. II was abolished in 1911, a
one Of the acts Of concession made b.
/ CHARLES l. to the demands Of an indig
nant nation. Prynne and his fellow mar
tyrs were recalled from prison. They en-
tered Lordon In triumph amid the shout
Of the multitude. who threw laurels i
their path.-Philadelphi Times.