The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-05-11
THE STAR CHAMBER
CONDENSED HISTORY or A FAMOUS
scHEME or OPPRESSION

and uniuat POWer-4ome OF Its 0ut-
rageous Penalties.
When the Earl Of Richmond had
defeated Richard H. at Bosworth and
had been crowned king as Henry VII,
be found the times ia 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 unblushlng manner In which
bribes and threats were resorted to by
those that had influence over the pro-
ceedings Of these courts denied to them
the security Of a jurors oath.
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, theoretically, the king him
self. who was considered the author
Of all justice, to which were contided
unlimited power and discretion over a
large, underlined class Of offenses. many
of which were Of political character
without the restraint Of a 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 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 at first.
Wealthy landowners who had OPP
pressed their neighbors 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 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
voklng the spirit OF mischief without
a corresponding power in reserve to
lay It or check its excesses if inclined
to abuse its authority"
Instead Of losing power as the neces-
Eity for its existence passed away It
drew to itself new elements Of strength
and enlarged the extent Of its jurisdic
ton. It became, after successive nd
ministrations under the hands Of am
bilious leaders such as hourished in
the time Of Henry vIII., Elizabeth and
the two Stuarts, a 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-
iaI 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 1t G means Of cruel injustice In
the hands OF bad men, instances Of
which disgrace the history Of its ad.
ministration during the reigns Of
James |. and Charles /.
One OF the most remarkable cases
was that OF Bishop Williams, who had
been lord keeper of the seal, popular
prelate and man Of learning and
spirit and at one time a special favor
ite Of James While enjoying bis pat
ronage he exerted 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 befriended 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
6ne. Among some refuse papers were
found some letters from Obaldiston, a
schoolmaster, directed to the bishop. In
these letters the writer spoke of a
~little great man" and In one place of
q ..Ilttle urchln" AS Laud was small
OF stature, II was conjectured that
these terms referred to him. They
were both tried, one for receiving such
scandaIous letters and the other for
writing them. Williams paid fine Of
5000 and Obaldlston f5.O00 and he
bad his ears nailed to the pillory.
Prynne. a barrlster at law, Of Lin
coins Inn, a Puritan Of the strictest
sect, published his famous aHistrio
Mastix,# huge volume Of 1000 quarto
pages, aimed at stage plays, music
dancing, public festivals. Christmas
sports bonfres and maypoles. For this
alleged libeIous volume be was arraign-
Cd before the star chamber.
Mr. Prynne. in his general sweep for
his historical Illustration Of the mis-
ckllef Of frequenting plays, referred to
Nero and spoke Of Flavius and others
who consplred against him for bis bad
example upon the magistrates and the
people. The chief justice from this IN
ferred that the author intended to in.
stigats the people to murder the king,
and Prynne was deprived Of his right