The Star-Chamber, Volume 1 | Page 4

at all, restrict the use of the "filthy
weed?"] "In truth," proceeds Chamberlain, "the world doth even groan
under the burthen of these perpetual patents, which are become so
frequent, that whereas at the king's coming in there were complaints of
some eight or nine monopolies then in being, they are now said to be
multiplied to as many scores."
From the foregoing citation, from a private letter of the time, the state
of public feeling may be gathered, and the alarm occasioned in all
classes by these oppressions perfectly understood.
Amongst those who had obtained the largest share of spoil were two
persons destined to occupy a prominent position in our history. They
were Sir Giles Mompesson and Sir Francis Mitchell,--both names held
in general dread and detestation, though no man ventured to speak ill of
them openly, since they were as implacable in their animosities, as
usurious and griping in their demands; and many an ear had been lost,
many a nose slit, many a back scourged at the cart's tail, because the
unfortunate owners had stigmatized them according to their deserts.
Thus they enjoyed a complete immunity of wrong; and, with the
terrible court of Star-Chamber to defend them and to punish their
enemies, they set all opposition at defiance.
Insatiable as unscrupulous, this avaricious pair were ever on the alert to
devise new means of exaction and plunder, and amongst the latest and
most productive of their inventions were three patents, which they had
obtained through the instrumentality of Sir Edward Villiers
(half-brother of the ruling favourite, the Marquess of
Buckingham)--and for due consideration-money, of course,--for the
licensing of ale-houses the inspection of inns and hostelries, and the
exclusive manufacture of gold and silver thread. It is with the two
former of these that we have now to deal; inasmuch as it was their
mischievous operation that affected Madame Bonaventure so
prejudicially; and this we shall more fully explain, as it will serve to
show the working of a frightful system of extortion and injustice
happily no longer in existence.

By the sweeping powers conferred upon them by their patents, the
whole of the inns of the metropolis were brought under the control of
the two extortioners, who levied such imposts as they pleased. The
withdrawal of a license, or the total suppression of a tavern, on the plea
of its being a riotous and disorderly house, immediately followed the
refusal of any demand, however excessive; and most persons preferred
the remote possibility of ruin, with the chance of averting it by ready
submission, to the positive certainty of losing both substance and
liberty by resistance.
Fearful was the havoc occasioned by these licensed depredators, yet no
one dared to check them--no one ventured to repine. They had the name
of law to justify their proceedings, and all its authority to uphold them.
Compromises were attempted in some instances, but they were found
unavailing. Easily evaded by persons who never intended to be bound
by them, they only added keenness to the original provocation, without
offering a remedy for it. The two bloodsuckers, it was clear, would not
desist from draining the life-current from the veins of their victims
while a drop remained. And they were well served in their iniquitous
task,--for the plain reason that they paid their agents, well. Partners
they had none; none, at least, who cared to acknowledge themselves as
such. But the subordinate officers of the law (and indeed some high in
office, it was hinted), the sheriff's followers, bailiffs, tipstaves, and
others, were all in their pay; besides a host of myrmidons,--base, sordid
knaves, who scrupled not at false-swearing, cozenage, or any sort of
rascality, even forgery of legal documents, if required.
No wonder poor Madame Bonaventure, finding she had got into the
clutches of these harpies, began to tremble for the result.

CHAPTER II.
Sir Giles Mompesson and his partner.
Madame Bonaventure had already paid considerable sums to the two
extortioners, but she resisted their last application; in consequence of

which she received a monition from Sir Giles Mompesson, to the effect
that, in a month's time, her license would be withdrawn, and her house
shut up, unless, in the interim, she consented to make amends to
himself and his co-patentee, Sir Francis Mitchell, by payment of the
sum in question, together with a further sum, equal to it in amount, by
way of forfeit; thus doubling the original demand.
Our pretty hostess, it would seem, had placed herself in an awkward
predicament by her temerity. Sir Giles was not a man to threaten idly,
as all who had incurred his displeasure experienced to their cost. His
plan was to make himself feared; and he was inexorable, as fate itself,
to a creditor. He ever exacted the full penalty of