Star Chamber

The Star Chamber was an English court of law at the royal Palace of Westminster that began sessions in 1487 and ended them in 1641 when the court itself was abolished. The court was so named because the court chamber had a pattern of stars on a dark blue background painted on its ceiling.

Abolition and aftermath

The Star Chamber was finally abolished in 1641 by the Long Parliament inflamed by the severe treatment of John Lilburne.

Related Topics:
1641 - Long Parliament - John Lilburne

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The excesses of the Star Chamber under Charles I, including the case of John Lilburne, constituted one of the rallying cries for those who eventually executed him. Throughout its history, however, it enjoyed some degree of support from the lower classes, who saw it as a bulwark against the aristocracy and gentry.

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In the early 1900s, American poet, biographer and dramatist Edgar Lee Masters, 1868-1950, commented:

Related Topics:
1900s - American - Poet - Dramatist - Edgar Lee Masters - 1868 - 1950

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:"In the Star Chamber the council could inflict any punishment short of death, and frequently sentenced objects of its wrath to the pillory, to whipping and to the cutting off of ears. ... With each embarrassment to arbitrary power the Star Chamber became emboldened to undertake further usurpation. ... The Star Chamber finally summoned juries before it for verdicts disagreeable to the government, and fined and imprisoned them. It spread terrorism among those who were called to do constitutional acts. It imposed ruinous fines. It became the chief defense of Charles against assaults upon those usurpations which cost him his life. ..."

Related Topics:
Pillory - Whipping - Cutting off of ears - Juries - Terrorism

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