Europe, Legal History, Law, Ireland, Court of Castle Chamber, History, 16th century, 17th century, Politics and government 

Irish Legal History Society 

Jon Crawford follows his Anglicizing the government of Ireland (1993) with this meticulous and comprehensive account of the workings of the tribunal that was the exact equivalent of its English counterpart - Star Chamber. The varying fortunes of the court under successive Irish chief governors from Henry Sidney down to Thomas Wentworth are examined in detail, the political context in all instances being carefully explained and shrewdly analysed. The volume is enhanced by a transcript of the surviving entry book. Further appendices treat of manuscript sources in Trinity College Dublin, not previously published, which help to fill in the lacunae in coverage of the court's activities after 1620. This is a major contribution to our understanding of governance in Ireland under Elizabeth I and her two successors.  

Content:
Pt. 1. The world of the court : the Irish star chamber in its judicial context -- 1. The court system in Ireland, 1571 to 1641 -- 2. The court of castle chamber : its structure and judicial personality -- 3. Lawyers, litigants and litigation before the court of castle chamber -- Pt. 2. The rise and fall of prerogative justice in Ireland : the Irish star chamber from 1534 to 1641 -- 4. The origins of the court of castle chamber -- 5. The first years of the court of castle chamber, 1571 to 1579 -- 6. An unsettled era in the court of castle chamber, 1579 to 1588 -- 7. Social violence, corruption and war : the court of castle chamber, 1588 to 1603 -- 8. Chichester's campaign of judicial aggression : the court of castle chamber, 1603 to 1615 -- 9. Pepitions, inquiries and graces : the court of castle chamber under attack, 1615 to 1629 -- 10. The menace of judicial despotism : the court of castle chamber, 1629 to 1641 -- Epilogue : the court of quiet disrepute -- App. I. The entry book of orders and decrees of the court of castle chamber, 1571-1621 -- App. II. The Irish star chamber trials, 1621-1632 -- App. III. Royal commission of the court of castle chamber, 1625 -- App. IV. Petitions and cases relating to the court of castle chamber under Wentworth.  

Includes bibliographical references and index.
Item donated by Graham Price.
Categorized by organization (Irish Legal History Society (ILHS)), then author/editor, then year.