The Star-Chamber

The Star-Chamber, An Historical Romance, Volume 1, is by William Harrison Ainsworth. The contents list names, among others, chapters headed The Three Cranes in the Vintry, Sir Giles Mompesson and his partner, The French ordinary, A Star-Chamber victim and Jocelyn Mounchensey. The book says that, by the sweeping powers conferred upon them by their patents, the whole of the inns of the metropolis were brought under the control of the two extortioners, who levied such imposts as they pleased. Madame Bonaventure is called poor, and is described as finding she had got into the clutches of these harpies.

A speaker declares "London is become another Nineveh, and will be devoured by flames like that great city." A speaker says that with the prophet Nahum he exclaims "Wo to the city, it is full of lies and robbery!" The next person to come finds the man in the vault on his knees, praying loudly and fervently, and leaves him at his devotions, but the third to enter is struck with terror at the prisoner's appearance.