Etext produced by Charles Franks and the Distributed Proofreaders Team HTML file produced by David Widger THE STAR-CHAMBER; AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE, By W. Harrison Ainsworth, Esq. Author of "Windsor Castle," &C. In Two Volumes. VOL. II. Leipzig Bernhard Tauchnitz 1854. CONTENTS OF VOLUME II. CHAPTER I. Poison II. Counter-Poison III. Showing that "our pleasant vices are made the whips to scourge us." IV. How the forged Confession was produced V. A visit to Sir Giles Mompesson's habitation near the fleet VI. Of the Wager between the Conde de Gondomar and the Marquis of Buckingham VII. A Cloud in the Horizon VIII. Whitehall IX. Prince Charles X. The old Palace-Yard of Westminster XI. The Tilt-Yard XII. The Tilting-Match XIII. The Felon Knight XIV. The private Cabinet of Sir Giles Mompesson XV. Clement Lanyere's Story XVI. Sir Jocelyn's rupture with de Gondomar XVII. Disgrace XVIII. How Sir Jocelyn's cause was espoused by the 'prentices XIX. A Noble Revenge XX. A Place of Refuge XXI. The Arrest XXII. The Old Fleet Prison XXIII. How Sir Jocelyn was brought to the Fleet XXIV. The Abduction XXV. The "Stone Coffin." XXVI. A Secret Friend XXVII. Showing how judgment was given by King James in the Star-Chamber in the great cause of the Countess of Exeter against Sir Thomas and Lady Lake XXVIII. The two warrants XXIX. The Silver Coffer XXX. How the Marriage was interrupted XXXI. Accusations XXXII. Judgment CONCLUDING CHAPTER.--Retribution CHAPTER I. Poison. The execution of Lady Lake's criminal and vindictive project would not have been long deferred, after the defeat she had sustained from Lord Roos, but for her husband's determined opposition. This may appear surprising in a man so completely under his wife's governance as was Sir Thomas; but the more he reflected upon the possible consequences of the scheme, the more averse to it he became; and finding all arguments unavailing to dissuade his lady from her purpose, he at last summoned up resolution enough positively to interdict it. But the project was only deferred, and not abandoned. The forged confession was kept in readiness by Lady Lake for production on the first favourable opportunity. Not less disinclined to the measure than her father was Lady Roos, though the contrary had been represented to Sir Thomas by his lady; but accustomed to yield blind obedience to her mother's wishes, she had been easily worked upon to acquiesce in the scheme, especially as the fabricated confession did not appear to hurt her husband, for whom (though she did not dare to exhibit it) she maintained a deep and unchanging affection. So utterly heart-broken was she by the prolonged and painful struggle she had undergone, that she was now almost indifferent to its issue.