Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-11-08


bet It Subsequently Became a Cruel
raweou1 Penalties.
When the Earl OF Richmond had
had been crowned king as Henry VII,
he found the times In so troubled a
state that men whose rights were in
fringed upon OF denied them dared not
apply for justice TO the ordinary courts.
The unblushiug manner In which
bribes and threats were Tesorted to by
those that had influence over the pro
ceedings or these courts denied to them
the security OF a jurors oath.
To reach a mischief that had grown
10 intolerabie Henry, feeling himself
strong enough with his second parlia-
ment, created a court made up OF
the highest officers OF the kingdom,
embracing. theoretically, the king him
self. who WAS considered the author
OF all justice. 10 which were confided
unlimited power and discretion over a
large. undenned class OF ofenses, many
Of which were OF a political character.
without the restraint OF jury and
subject TO no revision by appeal.
This was afterwsrd known as the
court OF the star chamber, 50 called
because the ceiling OF the room In
which it met was studded with stars
OF because In this apartment prior to
the time OF Edward l. the contracts
~ ha Ia r.allaH do
posted In boxes or chests.
This scheme had good results at first
Wealthy landowners who had op-
preased their neighbors with inpunity
were brought before this court. where
neither fear nor favor could avail, and
tried for their odenses The greatest
merit Of the court was that II was not
dependent ON n jury, for juries were
unable or unwilling 10 render verdict
IN keeping with their consciences.
One said. "A court thus constituted,
with powers SO broad and n discretion
unlimited 10y prescribed rules. though
called into existence for wise and salu-
tAry purposes, was in the end like In
voking the spirit Of mischief without
q corresponding power in reserve to
lay IL or check It's excuses II inclined
TO abuse It's authority"
Instead of losing power aa the neces-
s4ty for It's existence passed away II
drew TO itself new elements OF strength
and enlarged the extent OF its Jurisdic-
uon. IL became. after successive ad-
ministrations under the hands OF am
bilious leaders such AN nourished In
the two Stuarts. a most potent engine
OF despotic rule and intolerance. Tor
ture. intimidation and other devices
wsre used 10 compel the accused 20 in
crimlnate himself.
Charles l., through the star chamber,
nlled his Golfers During his reign such
enormous fines were imposed for triv
ial onenses that the audience gathered
about the courtroom at 3 o'clock In the
morning 10 secure seats 10 hear the
proceedings. The discretionary power
Of the court in the way Of punishment
the hands OF bad men, instances OF
which disgrace the history Of its ad-
ministration during the reigns OF
James l. and Charles /.
One OF the most remarkable cases
vas that Of Bishop Williams. who had
been lord keeper OF the seal. a popular
prGlats and a man Of learning and
spirit and at one time a special favor
ita OF James While enjoying his pat
runARe be eIerted his influence IN be
half of Laud, nfterward archbishop.
who owed his nrst promotion 10 his
good oc1ces. Some disa greement arose
between them. Nothing would satisfy
LAud but the ruin OF the man who
had befnended him.
On some slight pretext the bishop
was brought before the star chamber
and dned 10000, committed to the
Tower during the kings pleasure and
suspended from Office His furniture
and books were levied upon TO pay the
nna. Among some refuse papers were
found some letters from Obaldlston, u
schoolmaster, directed to the bishop. In
these letters the writer spoke Of i
little great man" and In one place OF
q little urchin" AS Laud was small
Of stature, Il was conjectureh that
these terms referred TO him. They
were both tried. one for receiving such
acandalous letters and the other for
writing them. Williams paid fine OF
$4,000 and Obaldiston $1,000, and be
had bis ears nailed 10 the plllory.
Prynne q barrister at law, Of Lin
coln's Inn. Puritan VI the strictest
Sect. published his famous "Histrio
MastiI." huge volume Of 1000 quarto
pages. aimed al stage plays, music
dancing public festivals, Christmas
sports bonf1res and maypoles. For this
alleged llbeloas volume he was arralgn
cd before the star chamber.
Mr. Prynne. in his general sweep for
his historical illustration of the mis-
chief Of frequenting plays. referred to
Nero and spoke OF Flavius and others
who conspired against him for his bad
example upon the magistrates and the
people The chief justice from this In
rerred that the author intended to in
stigate the people 20 murder the king
and Prynne was deprived Of his right
Of practice as n barrister, condemned
10 stand In the pillory at Westminster
and Cheapside. 10 lose his ears. one AT
each Of these places. 10 pay Il fine or
%. 900 and 20 be imprisoned for life
There was hardly man In the realm
who had not personal experience OF the
harshness and greediness OF the star
chamber l. became odlous, and not
without reasy. IL was abolished In
1871 as one of the acts Of concession
made by Charles l. TO the demands OF
NIL Indignant nation Prynne and his
Fellow martyrs were recalled from
prison They entered London in tri-
umph amid the shouts OF the multitude
who threw lnurels IN their oath.
GourtInR In the Tyroi
TyrOlean maidens are by old custom
spared the necessity OF giving tongue
20 their aye" or no" The first time