Coronation Notes

Dear Ann:

Boy, I wish you *could* write music! I really need someone who
understands the flavor of the times--not to mention the English
language--and the Tudor world. We'll see about that...

Thank you so very much for your Coronation notes. They are very
valuable and much appreciated. I'll be sure to incorporate much of
what you've given me.

Now--pressing my luck, I know--do you know anything about the Court
of the Star Chamber? I have heard that Henry created it but have no
clue what it was for. From what I've gleaned, the Star Chamber has a
vaguely menacing conotation, but why that is I don't know.

Thanks again!

Nate

natusm <nvenice2@...>29/01/2003 15:18nvenice2@...

> do you know anything about the Court
> of the Star Chamber?
Don't know if anyone has answered this yet but Star Chamber was indeed named
for the stars on the roof of the place it sat in, a chamber in the Palace of
Westminster. It also gained a reputation for arbritary "justice" and evil,
like a military 20th century junta.
I quote Neville Williams here
"This most famous and misunderstood tribunal was a conciliar committee
established by an Act of 1487 for he summary enforcment of legislation,
especially the laws against maintenance and retaining, the corruption of
juries, riots and seditions. The body consisted of the Lord Chancellor,Lord
Treasurer, th Keeper of the Privy Seal, a bishop, a lord of the Council and
the two chief justices."
This is one of the most infamous of courts, although to be fair, and I hate
to be fair where Henry VII is concerned, but the court gained it's appalling
reputation later in the Tudor period, although when the Long Parliament
moved to destroy it in 1641 they went back to repeal the law of 1487 that
established it.
Hope this helps.
Paul

Nate

Glad to be able to help.

To add to what has already been said on the subject, Star Chamber did
indeed get its name from the painted ceiling, and only acquired its
sinister reputation well into the Tudor period. It was one of a
number of courts established to deal with breaches of law made by
exercise of the Royal Prerogative, and was popular with litigants
because, unlike the common law courts, its procedures were simple and
cases were conducted in English rather than 'Law French' - a
developed form of Norman French used by the common law courts until
it was prohibited by Cromwell.

Ann

--- In , "natusm
<nvenice2@a...>" <nvenice2@a...> wrote:
> Dear Ann:
>
> Boy, I wish you *could* write music! I really need someone who
> understands the flavor of the times--not to mention the English
> language--and the Tudor world. We'll see about that...
>
> Thank you so very much for your Coronation notes. They are very
> valuable and much appreciated. I'll be sure to incorporate much of
> what you've given me.
>
> Now--pressing my luck, I know--do you know anything about the Court
> of the Star Chamber? I have heard that Henry created it but have
no
> clue what it was for. From what I've gleaned, the Star Chamber has
a
> vaguely menacing conotation, but why that is I don't know.
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Nate