Star-Chamber
.—Till the 17 Car. I. this was a criminal court, calling itself a court of equity, in which all state delinquents were thrown, when any offence was given to the king or his ministers. The penalties chiefly imposed by this infamous tribunal were fine, imprisonment, pillory, and loss of ears. The cabinet-cuoncil of modern days, has superseded the use of the star-chamber of ancient days; and I should scarcely be surprised if part of the house of commons were to form themselves into a kind of secret committee for the same purpose.
