A court established by Henry VII in 1487, to check the power of the great feudal houses by the suppression of maintenance, which, by providing them with large bodies of armed retainers, enabled the more powerful nobles to foment disturbances and insurrections. Later the Star Chamber became an instrument in the hands of the Sovereign for the suppression of free speech, and its arbitrary and corrupt decisions became notorious. It was abolished by Act of Parliament in 1641.
Star of the North.
A name given to Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden by the German Protestants during the Thirty Years War.
Stars and Stripes.
The flag of the United States. It consists of thirteen stripes, being the number of the original States of the Union, and a number of stars equal to the number of States in the Union for the time being, an additional star being added for each State admitted.
Start, The.
An excursion of Charles II into the Highlands in 1650, with the object of escaping from the Scottish Presbyterians, of whose loyalty he was somewhat doubtful, and also of raising a force in the Highlands to support him, in which he was entirely unsuccessful.
States-General (France).
An assembly of the three estates of the realm, nobles, clergy and commoners, first summoned in 1302 by Philip the Fair.