Also (nonce-form) chamber of stars. [f. STAR sb.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.
α. 1398. Acc. Exch. K. R. 470/17 m. 3. Circa reparationem tecture domus vocate Sterred chambre infra palacium predictum.
1426. Rolls of Parlt., V. 409/2. In the Sterred Chambre at Westmynstre, it was said and declared vnto my Lorde of Bedford [etc.]. Ibid. (1433), IV. 424/2. Lordes of ye Kyngs Counseil, beyng assembled in ye Sterrid Chambre.
1505. Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.), I. 225. The king our souerain Lordes moste honorable and most discrete Counsell in the starryd Chamber.
1533–4. Act 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.
β. 1422. Close Roll 1 Hen. VI. m. 21 b. In quadam camera vocata le Sterne-chamere infra palacium domini Regis Westm.
1427. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 334/2. En presence des plusours Seignours du Conseill nostre dit Sr. le Roi … esteantz en le Sterre chambre de Westmr. Ibid. (1450), V. 179/1. Sittyng in your Counseill in the Sterre Chambre, in your Paleis.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 157 b. The same Duke sayde openly in the starre chamber before the lordes of the Counsail, that [etc.].
1560. Procl., in Cardwell, Docum. Ann. (1839), I. 260. To certify her majesty’s privy council, or the council in the starchamber at Westminster.
1591. Lambarde, Archeion (1635), 148. So the Councell-Chamber of that Palace … hath beene of long time called the Star-Chamber.
2. (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.
1487. Act 3 Hen. VII., c. 1. Pro Camera Stellata. An Acte geving the Court of Starchamber Authority to punnyshe Mydemeanors [sic]
1522. Skelton, Why not to Court, 185. In the Chambre of Starres All maters there he marres.
1534. Star Chamber Cases (Selden Soc.), II. 315. A bille ageynst the seid mulsho in the kynges most honorable Courte of Sterred Chamber.
1604. Bacon, Apol., 41. I was absent that day at the Starre-chamber. Ibid. (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.
1655. Fuller, 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.
1764. Churchill, Gotham, II. 490. Curs’d Star-Chambers made, or rul’d the law.
b. transf. (allusively.)
1596. Edward 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.
a. 1625. Webster, Appius & Virg., I. iii. (1654), 7. This three months did we never house our heads, but in yon great star-chamber.
a. 1633. Austin, Medit. (1635), 194. Sent, as Messengers from the Star-chamber of heaven.
c. attrib.
1596. Lett. Lit. Men (Camd.), 95. The last starrchamber day of this terme.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 2. Sir Hugh, perswade me not: I will make a Star-Chamber matter of it.
1647. Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. § 211. The two bills for the taking away the Star Chamber court and the High Commission.
1659. Rushw., Hist. Coll., I. 671. To acknowledge his offence at the Council-board, the Star-Chamber-Bar, and Exchange.
1800. Asiatic Ann. Reg., II. St. Papers, etc. 82/2. They would steadily oppose the reviving of a nefarious star-chamber process.
1822. Scott, Nigel, xvi. Are you aware this is a Star Chamber business, young gentleman?
transf. 1888. Daily 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.) Starchamber v. trans. to bring before the Star-chamber.
1640. Shirley, Constant Maid, V. I 3. You have conspired to rob, cheat, and undo me: I’ll have you all Star-chamber’d.
