The Best Works of William Harrison Ainsworth. Book 4

The Best Works of William Harrison Ainsworth. Book 4: 1. The Star-Chamber; 2. The Constable de Bourbon; 3. Boscobel.


1. The Star-Chamber  

Published: 1854

The Star Chamber was a special court of law set up by the King of England with special powers. The Court of the Star Chamber had the power to deal with the nobles, but the Court of Star Chamber had the primary purpose to deal with political libel and treason cases.


2. The Constable de Bourbon 

Published: 1866

On a fine day, in the early part of June, 1523, a splendid cavalcade, consisting of three hundred well-mounted gentlemen, habited in velvet, and each having a massive gold chain round his neck, entered the Forest of Fontainebleau from the side of Nemours, and proceeded along an avenue bordered by noble trees towards the palace.

For the most part, the persons composing this brilliant troop were young and handsome cavaliers, whose looks and haughty bearing proclaimed their high birth, but there were some veterans among them, whose bronzed visages and martial deportment showed that they had served in many a hard campaign.


3. Boscobel

Published: 1871

In his letter to Mr. Hughes, the then Bishop of Llandaff describes King Charles the Second’s wanderings after the Battle of Worcester «as being by far the most romantic piece of English history we possess».