Though it would appear to be obvious enough, much doubt has been entertained as to the derivation of the name of this celebrated Court. "Some think it so called," writes the author of a learned treatise on its jurisdiction, before cited, "of _Crimen Stellionatus_, because it handleth such things and cases as are strange and unusual: some of _Stallen_. I confess I am in that point a Platonist in opinion, that _nomina naturâ fiunt potiùs quam vagâ impositone_. And so I doubt not but _Camera-Stellata_ (for so I find it called in our ancient Year-books) is most aptly named; not because the Star-Chamber, where the Court is kept, is so adorned with stars gilded, as some would have it--for surely the chamber is so adorned because it is the seal of that Court, _et denominatio_, being _à praestantiori magis dignum trahit ad se minus_; and it was so fitly called, because the stars have no light but what is cast upon them from the sun by reflection, being his representative body, and, as his Majesty was pleased to say when he sat there in his royal person, representation must need cease when the person is present. So in the presence of his great majesty, the which is the sun of honour and glory, the shining of those stars is put out, they not having any power to pronounce any sentence in this Court--for the judgment is the King's only; but by way of advice they deliver their opinions, which his wisdom alloweth or disalloweth, increaseth or moderateth at his royal pleasure." This explanation, which seems rather given for the purpose of paying a fulsome compliment to James, in whose reign the treatise in question was written, is scarcely satisfactory; and we have little doubt that the name originated in the circumstance of the roof of the chamber being embellished with gilded stars. We are told in Strype's Stowe, that the Star-Chamber was "so called, either by derivation from the old English word _Steoran_, which signifieth to steer or rule, as doth the pilot of a ship; because the King and Council did sit here, as it were, at the _stern_, and did govern in the ship of the Commonwealth. Some derive in from _Stellio_, which signifies that starry and subtle beast so called. From which cometh the word _stellionatus_, that signifieth _cosenage_; because that crime was chiefly punishable in this Court by an extraordinary power, as it was in the civil law. Or, because the roof of this Court was garnished with gilded stars, as the room itself was starry, or full of windows and lights. In which respect some of the Latin Records name it _Camera Stellata;_ the French _Chambre des Ètoiles;_ and the English the Starred Chamber." The derivation of the name, we repeat, seems to us sufficiently simple and obvious; but as it has been matter of controversy, we have thought it worth while to advert to the circumstance.