Capital Judges and Writers on the Law.
Sir JOHN FINEUX, was by all probability born at Swinkfield in this County (as I am informed from my good friend Mr. Thomas Fineux, a descendant from him) a place (* 1.1 saith Mr. Cambden,) bestowed on his Ancestor by T. Criol, a great Lord in Kent, about the raign of King Edward the second. I learned from the same Gentle∣man, that he was eight and twenty years of age, before he betook him to the study of the Law, that he followed that profession twenty eight years before he was made a Judg, and that he continued a Judge for twenty eight years, whereby it appears, that he lived four∣score and four years. This last exactly agrees with* 1.2 Sir Henry Spelman, making him con∣tinue Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench, from the eleventh of King Henry the se∣venth, until the seventeenth of King Henry the eight.
He was a great Benefactor unto Saint Augustines in Canterbury, whose Prior William Mallaham thus highly commendeth him in a* 1.3 Manuscript Instrument,
Vir prudentissimus, genere insignis, Justitia praeclarus, pietate refertus, Humanitate splendidus & charitate foecundus, &c.
Now though some will say, his Convent may well afford him good words, who gave them good deeds; yet I believe this Character of him, can in no part be disproved. He died about the year 1526. and lies buried in Christ Church in Canterbury; who had a fair habitation in this City, and another in Herne in this County, where his Motto still remains in each window, Misericordias Domini cantabo in Aeternum.
Sir ROGER MANWOOD, born at* 1.4 Sandwich in this County, applyed himselfe from his youth, to the study of the Common Law; wherein he attained to such emi∣nency, that by Queen Elizabeth he was preferred second Justice of the Common Pleas, in which place he gave such proof of his ability and integrity, that not long after in * 1.5 Hillary Term, in the 21. of Queen Elizabeth, he was made chief Baron of the Exche∣quer, discharging that office to his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Commendation, full fourteen years, till the day of his death. He was much employed in matters of State, and was one of the Com∣missioners who sate on the Trial of the Queen of Scots. His Book on the Forest Laws is a piece highly prized by men of his Profession. In Vacation time his most constant ha∣bitation was at Saint Stephens in Canterbury, where, saith my* 1.6 Author, the poor inha∣bitants were much beholding to his bounteous liberality. He erected and endowed a fair Free Schoole at Sandwich, the place of his Nativity, and died in the 35. of Queen Elizabeth, Anno Dom. 1593.
Sir HENRY FINCH, Knight, was born in this County of Right Worshipful Ex∣traction, (their ancient sirname being Herbert) a Family which had and hath an heredi∣tary happinesse of Eminency in the study of the Laws. He was Sergeant at Law to King James, and wrote a Book of the Law, in great esteem with men of his own profession▪ yet were not his studies confined thereunto, witnesse his Book of The calling of the Jews; and all ingenious persons which dissent from his judgement will allow him lear∣nedly