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Star-chamber, † starred chamber
Also (nonce-form) chamber of stars.
[f. star n.1, starred a.; rendering Anglo-L. camera stellata (14th c.), AF. chambre d'estoiles, des esteilles, esteillee (14th c.).
The conjecture of Sir T. Smith (Commonw. Eng. iii. iv, a 1577) that the chamber was so called ‘because at the first all the roofe thereof was decked with images of starres gilted’, appears to have no confirmatory evidence, but is highly probable. The notion, made popular by Blackstone, that the chamber had been the depository of ‘starrs’ or Jewish bonds (see starr) has no claim to consideration.]
1. The appellation of an apartment in the royal palace at Westminster, in which during the 14th and the 15th c. the chancellor, treasurer, justices, and other members of the king's council sat to exercise jurisdiction.
α1398Acc. Exch. K.R. 470/17 m. 3 Circa reparationem tecture domus vocate Sterred chambre infra palacium predictum. 1426Rolls of Parlt. V. 409/2 In the Sterred Chambre at Westmynstre, it was said and declared vnto my Lorde of Bedford [etc.]. 1433Ibid. IV. 424/2 Lordes of ye Kyngs Counseil, beyng assembled in ye Sterrid Chambre. 1505Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.) I. 225 The king our souerain Lordes moste honorable and most discrete Counsell in the starryd Chamber. 1533–4Act 25 Hen. VIII c. 1 §2 To appere before the kynges Highnes, and the Lordis of hys most honorable Counsell in the Sterred Chambre at Westmynster.
β1422Close Roll 1 Hen. VI. m. 21 b, In quadam camera vocata le Sterne-chamere infra palacium domini Regis Westm. 1427Rolls of Parlt. IV. 334/2 En presence des plusours Seignours du Conseill nostre dit Sr. le Roi..esteantz en le Sterre chambre de Westmr. 1450Ibid. V. 179/1 Sittyng in your Counseill in the Sterre Chambre, in your Paleis. a1548Hall Chron., Hen. VI, 157 b, The same Duke sayde openly in the starre chamber before the lordes of the Counsail, that [etc.]. 1560Procl. in Cardwell Docum. Ann. (1839) I. 260 To certify her majesty's privy council, or the council in the starchamber at Westminster. 1591Lambarde Archeion (1635) 148 So the Councell-Chamber of that Palace..hath beene of long time called the Star-Chamber.
2. a. (More fully Court of Star-chamber.) A court, chiefly of criminal jurisdiction, developed in the 15th c. from the judicial sittings of the King's Council in the Star Chamber at Westminster. The judges were the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper, the Lord Treasurer, the Lord Privy Seal, and any peers that chose to attend. The rules of procedure of the court rendered it a powerful instrument in the hands of a sovereign or a ministry desirous of using it for purposes of tyranny, and the abuse of it under James I and Charles I have made it a proverbial type of an arbitrary and oppressive tribunal. It was abolished by an Act of the Long Parliament in 1641.
1487Act 3 Hen. VII c. 1 Pro Camera Stellata. An Acte geving the Court of Starchamber Authority to punnyshe Mydemeanors [sic]. 1522Skelton Why not to Court 185 In the Chambre of Starres All maters there he marres. 1534Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.) II. 315 A bille ageynst the seid mulsho in the kynges most honorable Courte of Sterred Chamber. 1604Bacon Apol. 41, I was absent that day at the Starre-chamber. 1622― Hen. VII, 64 As the Chancerie had the Pretorian power for Equitie; So the Star-chamber had the Censorian power for Offences, vnder the degree of Capitall. 1637(title) A Decree of Starre-Chamber, concerning Printing. 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. ix. 187 The most sturdy and refractory Non-conformists (especially if they had any visible Estates) were brought into the Star-Chamber, the power whereof was above dispute. 1692[J. Wilson] Vindic. Carol. 21 The taking away the several Courts of the Star-chamber. 1764Churchill Gotham ii. 490 Curs'd Star-Chambers made, or rul'd the law.
b. transf. (allusively) and fig.
1596Edw. III, ii. ii. 165 When to the great Starre-chamber ore our heads The vniuersell Sessions cals to count This packing euill, we both shall tremble for it. a1625Webster Appius & Virg. i. iii. (1654) 7 This three moneths did we never house our heads, but in yon great star-chamber. a1633Austin Medit. (1635) 194 Sent, as Messengers from the Star-chamber of heaven. 1896W. C. Gore in Inlander Jan. 150 Star chamber, an oral examination given to a student privately. 1934[see Gay-Pay-Oo]. 1958M. Kennedy Outlaws on Parnassus xiii. 208 A large group of [novelists]..will never allow that the novel can be subjected to legislation. If some Star Chamber has been set up, they..will have none of it. 1973Times 4 Dec. 17/6 The constitutional propriety of the present industrial star chamber is dubious. 1975‘S. Marlowe’ Cawthorn Jrnls. (1976) xviii. 150 Mexican law's based on the Code Napoleon... You could say the courtroom's a Star Chamber instead of a field of forensic battle.
c. attrib.
1596Lett. Lit. Men (Camd.) 95 The last starrchamber day of this terme. 1598Shakes. Merry W. i. i. 2 Sir Hugh, perswade me not: I will make a Star-Chamber matter of it. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. iii. §211 The two bills for the taking away the Star Chamber court and the High Commission. 1659Rushw. Hist. Coll. I. 671 To acknowledge his offence at the Council-board, the Star-Chamber-Bar, and Exchange. 1800Asiatic Ann. Reg. II. St. Papers etc. 82/2 They would steadily oppose the reviving of a nefarious star-chamber process. 1822Scott Nigel xvi, Are you aware this is a Star Chamber business, young gentleman?
transf.1888Daily News 23 June 6/2 The defendants' solicitor was furnished..with the transcript of the shorthand writer's notes, taken at a ‘Star Chamber’ inquiry of four of the witnesses examined.
Hence (nonce-wd.) ˈStarchamber v. trans. to bring before the Star-chamber.
1640Shirley Constant Maid v. I 3, You have conspired to rob, cheat, and undo me; I'll have you all Star-chamber'd. |