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BVt from whence this place first purchased the name of Star-chamber, there may be divers con∣jectures; one, by derivation from the old English word Steoran, which signifieth to steare, or rule, as doth the Pilot in a ship; because the King and Councell doe sit here, as it were
at the Sterne, and doe governe the Shippe of the Common-wealth: Then, of the Latine word Stellio, which betokeneth that starry and subtile Beast, of whose name the fault of craftie Cozenage is borrowed by the Civillians, which they call Cri∣men stellionatum, because the Sinne is punished in this Court by an ex∣traordinary paine, even as it was in the Law Civill.
Lastly, because happily the Roofe thereof was at the first garnished with gilded Stars, as the Roome it selfe is starry, or full of Windows and Light; in which respect, some of the Latine Records name it Camera Stellata; the French, Le Chamber des Estoyels; and the English, the Starred Chamber; as you may observe by that I have spoken before.