The Star-Chamber, Volume 1 An Historical Romance

Chamber

e of Cyprien's efforts to prevent him, he had contrived to gain possession. The young man acknowledged his courtesy with a smile, praised the wine, and expressed his astonishment at the wonderful variety and excellence of the repast, for which he said he was qu

r manly beauty and intelligence, and a figure perfectly proportioned and athletic. Sir Francis set him down as well skilled in all exercises; vaulting, leaping, riding, and tossing the pike; nor was he mistaken. He also concluded him to be fond of country sports; and he was right in the supposition. He further imagined the young man had come to town

velvet slashed in the Venetian style like mine own, with hose stuffed and bombasted according to the mode. A silk stocking will bring out the nice proportions of his leg; though, as I am a true gentleman, the youth has so well formed a limb that even his own villainous yarn coverings cannot disfigure it. His hair is of a good brown colour, which the king affects much, and seems to curl naturally; but it wants trimming to the mode, fo

ed himself in his blandest accents, and with his

nt frequenter of this French ordinary) ever saw served here-(though the attendance is abominable, as you must have remarked-that rascally Cyprien deserves the bastinado,); but your civility

to bring me here on this festive occasion; and I rejoice yet more that it has brought me acquainted with a worthy gentleman like yourself, to whom my rustic manners prove not to be displeasing. I have too

d youth," he added aloud, with apparent cordiality, and affecting to regard the other with great interest; "and when I learn the particul

if I had any choice," the you

ut with some the shortest road would not be the safest. In your case I think it might be different. You

ng man rejoined with a well-pleased air; "were I not too conscious of my ow

hould come up to my opinion of your good looks; and as to my friendly disposition towards you, I have already said that your attentions have won it, so that

out of fifty kept by my father, and with scarce a hundred acres that I can still call my own, out of the thousands swept away from me. Still I hunt in my father's woods; kill my father's deer; and fish in my father's lakes; since no one molests me. And I keep up the little church near the

th a look of well-feigned concern; "and attributable, I much fear, to

swallowed up the substance of so many families, that our land is threatened with desolation. My father was ruined by that court, which, with a mockery of justice, robs men of their name, their fame, their lands, and goods; which perverts the course of law, and saps the principles of equity; which favours the knave, and oppresses the honest man; which promotes and supports extortion and plunder; wh

nunciation. "Pray heaven your words have reached no other ears than mine! To speak of the Star-Chamber as you have

" the young man cried in astonishment. "Must

ied in a low tone. "No court in England is so jealous of its prerogatives, nor so severe in puni

igation or discussion. Such is the practice of all arbitrary a

cely in private. It is well you have addressed yourself to one who will not betray you. The Star-Chamber hath its spies everywhe