The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1906-09-05

and Must FOWGr-SOme of Its Out
rHgcous Penalties.
When the Earl Of Richmond had
defeated Richard Ill at BOsworth and
had been crowned king as Henry VII,
he found the times in so troubled Il
state that men whose rights were in
fringed upon OF denied them dared not
apBly for justice 20 the ordinary courts.
The unblushng manner In which
hrihes and threats We're resorted to by
those thar had influence over the pro-
rcedings of these courts denied to them
the security Of IA Jurors oath
10 reach u mischief that had grown
50 intolcrable Henry, feeling himself
strong enough with his second parlla-
iheut, created court made up Of
the highest officers Of the kingdom,
embracing. theoretically. the King him
self, who WAS considered the author
Of all justice, To which We're contided
unlimited power and discretion over
large, underlined class OF offenses, many
OF which were of n political character,
without the restraint of a jury and
subject to 10 revision by appeal
This was afterward known as the
court of the star chamber, 50 called
Oceausc the ceiling of the room in
which it met was studded with stars
or because i'll this apartment prior to
the time Of Edward l. the contracts
of the Jews, called starrs We're de
posted in boxes or chests.
This scheme had good results at first
Wealthy landowners who had op-
pressed their nelghbors with inpunlty
were brought before this court, where
neither fear nor favor could avail, and
tried for their 0ifcnses. The greatest
merit of the court was that it was not
dependent on Il jury. for Juries were
unable or unwilling to render verdict
i'll keeping with their consciences.
Onr sad. y court thus constituted,
with powers SO broad and discretion
unlimited by prescribed rules. though
called into existence for wise and salu-
tary purposes, was in the end like In
yokinE the spirit of mischief without
n corresponding power in reserve to
lay it or check its eXcesses II inclined
to abuse lis authority"
Instead of losing power as the heccs-
stty for lis existence passed away 1t
drew to itself new elements OF strength
aud enlarged the extent of Its jurisdic
tlon. IT became, after successive adj
minisiratiuns under the hands of am
bilious leaders such rs 1ourlshed In
the time Of Henry Viii. Elizabeth and
2F4tA pnfr ri m
of dcspotic rule and intolerance. Tor
ture intimidation and other devices
were used 10 compel the accused To In
efiHnate himself.
Charles through the star chamber,
filled his Golfers. During his reign such
enormous lines were imposed for trlv-
ial omcnseS that the audience gathered
about the courtroom Mt o'clock In the
morning 10 secure seats To hear the
proceedings The discretionary power
of the court In the way of punishment
nude II u means of cruel injustice in
the hands OF bad men. instances Of
which disgrace the history OF Its ad-
ADMINISTRATION during the rcigns OF
james |. and Charles l.
one Of the most remarkable cases
WAS Gi,Gt Of Bishop Williams, who had
been lord keeper of the seal. n popular
preate and IL man of learning and
spirit ana ut one time n special favor
itc of james While enjoying his pat
ronngc lac cxerted his influence In be-
half of I4aud. afterWard archbishop.
who owed his first promotion To his
good Offices. Some disagreement arose
between them. Nothing would satisfy
Luud but the ruin of the man who
had bcfriendcd him
On some slight preteNt 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
aud bool,s We're levied upon To pay the
fine Among some refuse papers were
found some letters from Obaldiston, II
sehnomaster, directed TO the bishop. In
these letters the writer spoke of II
little great man and In one place of
little urehin" As Iaud was small
Of stature. il was eonJectured that
these terms referred to him They
We're both tried, one for receiving such
scandalous letters and the other for
writing them Williams paid n fine of
tSo00 and Ohaldiston $4,000, and he
had his ears nailed tn the pillory
rrNnue harriSter at law, of Lin
coins Inn. Puritan of the strietest
sect published his famous "Ilistrio
MHStiN." huge volume of 900 uuurto
pages, aimed at stage plays music
dancing public festivals. Christmas
sports hpulires and maNpolcs. For this
alleged libelouS volume he WAS arrulgn-
ed before the star chamber
Mr. rryuue. in his general sweep for
his historical Illustration Of the mis-
chief of treqncnting plays. referred to
Nero and spoke of flaVius aud others
who conSpired against him for his bad
example upon the magistrates and the
people .llie chief Justice from this in
fcrred that the author intended 10 in
stlgate the people 10 murder the king,
and Pryuur was deprived of his right
of practice as baTlster. condemned
to stand IN the pillory at Westminster
and Cheapslde, 10 lose his ears, one NJ
each of these places. TO pay fine of
td,00u aud e be Imprisoned for life
There was hardly a man In the realm
who had not personal experience of the
harshucSS anil grcNlmcss of the star
chamber. 4 became odious. and not
without rcasuIr II WAS abolished in
1911 as one of the acts Of concession
made hy Charles |, to the demands OF
an indignant nation. rrNune and his
fellow martyrs We're recalled from
prison They entered London In tri-
umph amid the shuuts Of the multitude.
who th-c' ,aurels in their path.