Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-11-22
THE III STA Il r { II; i! A M,BE1R B

lHE h NJ. 4 II C,HA 4 lils} ls3
-eoNpENsEE HIST oRY or A FAM GUS
SCHEME OF OPPRESSION,
Ar First Its objects Were LaudaBie,,
/ but II Subsequently, became d Cruel
= and Unjust Fowersom 81 lis Out-
y rageous Penalties. MI
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 a
state that men whose rights were in
fringed upon or denied them dared not
apply for justice to the ordinary courts.
The unblushing manner In which
brides and threats We're rasorted to by
those that had influence over the pro-
ceedings Of these courts denied to them
the security or a jurors oath. ss..
Z TO reach a mischief that had grown
SO intolerable Henry. feeling himself
strong enough with his second parlia-
ment, created a court made up of
the highest officers OF the kingdom.
embracing, theoreti cally, the king him
sell, who was considered the author
Of all justice, to which were confided
unlimited power and discretion over a
large, underlined class of offenses many
OF which were of q political character,
without the restraint of jury and
subject to no revision by appeal.
This was afterward known as the
court Of the star chamber, SO called
because the ceiling Of the room in
which 1t met was studded with stars
Or because in this apartment prior to
the time Of Edward 4. the contracts
of the Jews, called STAIRS, were de-
posted in boxes or chests.
This scheme had good results at first.
Wealthy landowners who had OPP
pressed their neig hbors with inpunity
were brought before this court, where
neither fear nor favor could avail, and
tried for their offenses. The greatest
merit of the court was that it was not
dependent on a 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 a discretion
unlimited by prescribed rules, though
called into existence for wise and salu-
tary purposes, was in the end like In
syoking the spirit of mischief without
a corresponding power in reserve to
lay 1t or check its excuses If inclined
to abuse its authority" .i.S s '..@55
Instead OF losing power as the neces-
.sity for its existence passed away It
drew to itself new elements of strength
and enlarged the extent OF ITS sjurisdic-
tion It became, after successive nd
7ministrations under the hands OF ann
bilious leaders such 5as fourished in
the time Of Henry VIII, Elixab beth and
the two Stuarts, q most potent engine
Of despotic rule and intolerance. Tor
ture, intimidation and other devices
were used to compel the accused to In
criminate himself. Ss#i5.s.ss
Charles 4, 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 3 o'clock in the
morning to secure seats to hear the
proc edings The discretionary power
OF the court iii the way Of punishment
made 1t d means of cruel injustice III
the hands of bad men, Instances DC
which disgrace the history OF its adj
ministration during the reigns of
James 4 and Charles 4.
One Of the most remarkable cases
was that Of Bishop Williams, who had
been lord keeper OF the seal, q popular
preiate and a man Of learning and
spirit aud 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 frst promotion to his
good offices. Some disagreement arose
between them. Nothing would satisfy
Laud but the ruin Of the man who
had befriended him. NJ
On some slight pretext the bishop
was brought before the star chamber
and fined s1O, 600, committed to tie
Tower during the kings pleasure and
suspended from Office. His furniture
and books were iesied upon to pay the
fine. Among some refuse papers were
found some letters from Obald iston, .
oolmaster, directed TO the bishop. ia
these letters the writer spoke OF q
little great man, and In one place 81
d ttttle urchin. AS Laud was small
OF stature, 1t was conf ectured tnas
these terms referred to him. They
were both tried. one for receiving such
scandaIous letters and the other fol
writing them Williams paid asfine o1
5000 and Obald iston f6, 900, and he
had bis ears nailed to the pillory.
Prynne barrister at law, Of Lin
coins Inn, q Puritan of the strictes,
sect Published his famous Histrie
SAGastix.n q huge volume of ], 900 quartz
pages, aimed at stage plays, musis
dancing, public festivals, Christmas
sports bonfres and maypoles. For Till
alleged libelous volume he was arraign
Led before the star chamber.
i Efs q ~ az