Manuscript copy of the Treatise of the Court of the Starchamber by William Hudson

Bound volume of a manuscript copy of 'A Treatise concerninge the Court of the Starrchamber' by William Hudson.

The star chamber was a civil and criminal court of England set up to ensure the fair enforcement of laws against prominent people, most notably nobles and politicians. The star chamber sessions were closed to the public and gradually came to be known as corrupt and misused for the benefit of the King and his circle.
William Hudson (c.1577–1635), was a barrister and joined the star chamber in 1594. He was an adept and very hardworking barrister in the court and openly critical of those he considered to be abusing their power such as Lord Chancellor Francis Bacon. He wrote the Treatise of the Star Chamber in 1621 in an attempt to persuade the members of the court to return the star chamber to its 'antient course', as it had been under Thomas Egerton, Lord Ellesmere, in 1596–1617, in order to defend itself against those who disparaged it, challenged its jurisdiction, and denied its privileges. Contemporaries recognized the treatise as authoritative, thanks to Hudson's pre-eminence at the court's bar. Hudson died in 1635 and the star chamber was abolished six years later.

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This item was purchased in 1941.

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Former location: MSS 5/ii/1 Book number 230384

Other editions of this manuscript are held at the British Library, Manuscripts Collection and at Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives.