The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-08-31
TIE SCAR CHAMBER
3 CONDEMNS q \ st'ossx o. "a FAMOUS
stcHEME OF oPpREsstost

# S s.en - fesN o. a. fAAaou
ssHE y OF oPPREsslost
A First lts OhSssss yyers La-a.s,.
sss + gesssaneatly Dscsrs : cr~.
hid Uajust fovser- ~ II n. ~.
~ rageous Realities.
When the Earl Of Richmond ha6
defeated Richard III. at Bosworth ani
had been crowned king as Henry VII.
ne found the times in so troubled q
state that men whose rights were in.
1ranged upon or denied them dared not
+ apply Tor justice to the ordinary courts.
The .unbiushing manner in which
9Elbes and threats were resorted to by
those that had influence over. the pro.
eeedings Of these courts denied to them
the security Of Jurors oath.
To reach q mischief that had grown
90 intolerable Henry. feeling himself
strong enough With big second parlia-
the highest officers of the kingdom,
etabracins tssTscs.!caIly, ths king HIN
self, who @as considered tie auth5f
Of all justice, to which were confided
unlimited power and discretion over
large, underlined cless Of offences, many
OF which were OF political character,
without he Restraint Of jury and
subject to no revision by apnec..1
This wes arterward knewn as the
c2Grs Of the star chamber, so called
because the ceiling of the room in
which It met was studded with stars
or because in this apartment prior to
the time Of Edward !. The contracts
of the Jews, called STAIRS. were de-
posted in boxes or chests.
This scheme had good results ut FIRST
Wealthy landowners who had OPP
pressed their neighbors with tHp&Aity
were brought before this cou1&, where
neither fear nor favor could avail, and
tried for their ofrenses. The greatest
merit Of the court was that it was not
dependent on jury, for juries were
unable or unwilling to render a verdict
In keeping with their consciences.
One said, "a court thus constituted,
with powers so broad and q discretion
unlimited by prescribed rules, though
called into existence for wise and salu-
tary purposes, was In the end like in
voking the spirit of mischief without
a corresponding power in reserve to
lay it or check its excuses If inclined
to abuse its authority"
Instead Of 1oS{ror poxx,or No ,,ooos,
sity for its existence passed away it
drew to itself new elements of strength
and enlarged the extent Of Its jurisdic-
ton. 1t became, after successive ad-
ministratiOns under the hands Of am
bilious leaders such as fourished in
the time of Henry VIII, Elizabeth and
the two Stuarts, most potent engine
of despotic rule and intolerance. Tor
ture, intimidation and other devices
were used to compel the accused to in
criminate himself.
Charles l., through the star chamber.
filed his Golfers. During his reign such
enormous fines were imposed for triv-
ial offenses that the audience gathered
about the courtroom at o'clock in the
morning to secure seats to hear the
proceedings. The discretionary power
of the court in the way Of punishment
made it means Of cruel injustices in
the hands Of bad men, instances Of
which disgrace the history of it's ad-
ministration during the reigns of
James I. and Charles I.
One of the most remarkable cases
was that Of Bishop Williams, who had
been lord keeper Of the seal, q popular
,prelate and q man of learning and
spirit and at one time special favor
lite Of James. While enjoying his pat
ronage he exerted his influence III be-
half Of Laud, afterward archbishop,
who owed his first promotion to his
good offices. Some disagreement arose
between them. Nothing would satisfy
'Laud but the ruin Of the man who
had befrended him.
On some slight pretext the bishop
was brought before the star chamber
and fined 10000, committed to the
Tower during the kings pleasure and
suspended from Office. His furniture
and books were levied upon to pay the
fine. Among some refuse papers were
found some letters from Obaldiston, q
,schoolmaster, directed to the bishop. In
these letters the writer spoke Of a
sittle great man" and in one place of
a little urchin." AS Laud was small
OF stature, 1t was conjectured that
these terms referred to him. They
were both tried. one for receiving such
scandalous letters and the other for
writing them. Williams paid fine of
$4,000 and Obaldiston e. 600, and be
had his ears nailed to the pillory.
Prynne, a barrister at law, Of Lin.
coins Inn, Puritan Of the strictest
sect, published his famous "Histrio
tAastix," huge volume Of 1000 quarta
pages, aimed at stage plays, music
dancing. public festivals, Christmas
sports, bonfires and maypoles. For this
alleged nbelous volume he was arraign
I'd before the star chamber.
Mr.. Prynna, In his general sweep 70,
his historical illustration Of the mis-
chief Of frequenting plays, referred t.
Nsr0 and spoke Of Flavius and otherl
who conspired against him for tis5 bad
sbnIanfnl0 1r.nn ffle, ma e,fafro<na auA: ~