The twice=a=week herald. (Amarillo, Tex.) 1887-1906, 1906-09-07
THE STAR CHAMBER
CONDENSED HISTORY CA rsHQIs
SCHEME or CYPRESS ON

AZ First Its objects Were LaudrhIr
but IL subsequently became a CrIrl
and Unjust Powcr--Some oe Its cot,
rREeous Penalties,
When the Earl OF Richmond hol
defeated Richard Ill, at Bosworth a.
had been crowned king as Henry VA.
he found the times In 30 troubled 70
state that men whose rights were 10.
frlnged upon or denied them dared II
apply for Justice TO the ordinary courl,
The unblushing manner In who
brlbes and threats were rcgorted to b.
those that had influence over the pru
ccedngs Of these courts denied TO then
the security Of n Jurors oath.
To reach u mischief that had grown
so intolcrable Henry feeling hlmsel.
strong enough with bis second parlla
ment created court made up o..
the highest officers OF the kingdom
embracing, theoretically the king him
self, who was considered the author
Of all justice, 10 which were conndcd
unlimited power and discretion over a
large, underlined class OF onenses, many
OF which were OF political character,
without the restraint Of n jury and
subject TO no revision by appeal,
This was aftcrward known rs tho
court Of tho star chamber, so called
because the ceiling Of the room In
which II met was studded with stars
or because In this apartment prior TO
the time OF Edward l. the contracts
Of the Jews, called stars, were de.
posted In boxes or chests,
This scheme had good results at first
Wealthy landowners who had op.
pressed their nelshbors with inpunlty
were brought before this court, where
neither fear nor favor could avail, and
tried for their olfenscs The greatest
merit Of the court was that II was not
dependent on a jury, for jurics were
unable or unwilling TO render verdict
In keeping with their consclcnces.
One said, "a court thus constituted,
with powers so broad and discretion
unlimited 10y prescribed rules, though
called into existence for wise and salu.
tary purposes, was In the end like in
yoSIng the spirit OF mischief without
n corresponding power in reserve 90
lay IL or Checl, It's excuses If inciiael
TO abuse its authority"
Instead OF losing power as the naces.
Sity for It's existence passed away II
drew TO itself new elements OF strength
and enlarged the extent of it, juriSdic-
ton, II became, after successive nd
mlnistrntlons unGcr the hands Of am
bilious leaders such rs louri3hed in
the time Of Henry Will, Elizabeth GnL
the two StUar,s, most potent engine
Of dcs-O;ir rule and intolerance, Tor
tuvc, Intimidation and other devices
were used f. compel TIE accused 70 IN
cr.u.n&ta himself.
Charles l., through the star chamber.
llcI his Golfers, During his reign aucl
enormous fines were imposed FOR triy
iol oTcnSc3 that the audience gathered
about the courtroom at O'Clock in a
morning 10 secure seats to hear III
proceedings The discretionary pow
Of the coart in the way Of puniShmC
uade Il means Of cruel injustice
he hands Of bad men. instances
which disgrace tag history OF It's +
miuistration during the reIgns ,
James |, ana Charles |.
Cac Of tue most remarkable ca
was that OF Bishop Williams, who
Neen LORD keeper Of tie seal, q popu
,late ana a ran OF learning al.
spirit and at one time special favor.
tie Of James While enjoying his pat
ronage he cXcrtcd his influence in 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 befriendcd him.
On some slight pretext the bishop