every complaint of wives against their husbands was there examined and
discussed.[*]

* Rymer, tom. xvii. p. 200.

On like pretences, every cause which regarded conscience, that is, every
cause, could have been brought under their jurisdiction. But there was
a sufficient reason why the king would not be solicitous to stretch
the jurisdiction of this court: the star chamber possessed the same
authority in civil matters; and its methods of proceeding were equally
arbitrary and unlimited, The origin of this court was derived from the
most remote antiquity[*] though it is pretended, that its power had
first been carried to the greatest height by Henry VII. In all times,
however, it is confessed, it enjoyed authority; and at no time was its
authority circumscribed, or method of proceeding directed by any law or
statute.

We have had already, or shall have sufficient occasion, dur-* ing the
course of this history, to mention the dispensing power, the power of
imprisonment, of exacting loans[**] and benevolences, of pressing and
quartering soldiers, of altering the customs, of erecting monopolies.
These branches of power, if not directly opposite to the principles
of all free government, must, at least, be acknowledged dangerous to
freedom in a monarchical constitution, where an eternal jealousy must be
preserved against the sovereign, and no discretionary powers must ever
be intrusted to him, by which the property or personal liberty of any
subject can be affected. The kings of England, however, had almost
constantly exercised these powers; and if, on any occasion, the prince
had been obliged to submit to laws enacted against them, he had ever,
in practice, eluded these laws, and returned to the same arbitrary
administration. During almost three centuries before the accession of
James, the regal authority, in all these particulars, had never once
been called in question.

* Bushworth, vol. ii. p. 473. In Chambers's case, it was the
unanimous opinion of the court of king's bench, that the
court of star Chamber was not derived from the statute of
Henry VII., but was a court many years before, and one of
the most high and honorable courts of justice. See Coke's
Rep. term. Mich. 5 Car. I. See, further, Camden's Brit. vol.
i. Intro, p. 254, edit. of Gibson.

** During several centuries, no reign had passed without
some forced loans from the subject.

We may also observe, th