State-worthies, or, The states-men and favourites of England since the reformation their prudence and policies, successes and miscarriages, advancements and falls, during the reigns of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, King Charles I.

Observations on the Life of Sir John Fineux.

SIr Iohn Fineux born at Swinkfield, in the Coun∣ty of Kent, a place bestowed on his Ancestors by a great Lord in Kent, called T. Criol, about the reign of King Edward the second. He followed the Law twenty eight years before he was made a Judge; in which Office he continued twenty eight years, and was twenty eight years of Age before he ••etook himself to this study: whence it necessarily ••ollows, that he was four-score and four when he died. He was a great Benefactor to St. Augustines

in Canterbury; the P••ior whereof William Malla∣ham thus highly commende••h him: (good deeds deserve good words.)

Vir prudentissimus, Genere insignis, Iustitia praecla∣rus, Pictate refertus, Humanitate splendidus, & charitate foecundus.

He died in 1526. and lies buried in Christ-Church in Canterbury, having had a fair habitation in this City, and another in Herne in this County, where his Motto still remaineth in each Window:

Misericordias Domini cantabo in AEternum.

Nile's original is hidden, but his stream is fa∣mous. This Judge's Ancestors were not so ob∣scure, as he was illustrious. His Device upon his Se••geants Ring was, Suae quis{que} fortunae faber; and his discourse was always to this purpose, That no man thrived but he that lived as if he were the first man in the world, and his father were not born before him.

Forty years he said he lived by his industry; Twenty by his reputation, and Ten by favour. King Henry the seventh knew not how well this Gentleman could serve him, until he saw how effectually he did oppose him about the Tenth Pe∣ny raised for the War in Britain, which raised ano∣ther in York; where though the Rabble (that mur∣thered Henry Earl of Northumberland, who was to levy the Tax) had not his Countenance for their Practice, yet had they his Principle for their Rule, which was this, Before we pay any thing, let us see

whether we have any thing we can call our own to pay. So able, though reserved a Patriot, thought the wise King, would be an useful Courtier, and he that could do so well at the Bar, might do more at the Bench. Cardinal Morton was against his ad∣vancement, as an incouragement to the Factious: (whose Hydra-heads grow the faster by being ta∣ken off by Preferment, and not by an Ax) the King was for it, as the most probable way of weakening of them, as who, when the most sober and wise part of them draweth off, are but a rude multitude, and a rope of sand. When a Commoner, none so stiff for the subjects priviledg; when a Judge, none so firm to the Princes Prerogative: two things, (how∣ever, they fatally clashed of late) that are solid felicities together, and but empty notions asunder: for what is Prerogative but a great Name, when not exercised over a free people? and what is pri∣viledg but a fond imagination, when not secured under a powerful King, that may keep us from be∣ing slaves one to another by Anarchy, while we strive to be free from his Tyranny? That people is beyond president free, and beyond comparison happy, who restrain not their Sovereigns power to do them harm so far, as that he hath none left him to do them good. Careful he was of the Law; for he was a Judge: and as careful of his Sovereigns Right; for he was a Subject. No ominous clash∣ing between Courts in his time; nor setting the Kings Conscience in Chancery against his Will in the Kings Bench. A man tells Aristides, to make him party in his cause, that his Adversary had abused him: I sit not here (saith that Impartial Judge) to right my self, but you. When a notorious enemy of

Judge Fineux had a cause depending before him, It might have gone against you, my friend, (said he) had you not been my Enemy: His Motto was; nemo prudem punit quia peccatum est sed ne peccetur.

Ten things, which are indeed ten of the most remarkable particulars of his life, raised him.

• 1. An indefatigable industry, 1. In his reading, leaving behind him 23 Folio's of Notes. 2. In his practice, bequeathing 3502 Cases he managed himself to his Executor.
• 2. A freedome of converse, as about his busi∣ness, none more close; so in company, none more open; having so compleat a command of himself, that he knew to a minute when to indulge, and to a minute too when to restrain himself. A gay and cheerful humour, a spriteful conversation, and clean••y manners, are an exceeding useful accom∣plishment for every one that intends not to wind himself into a solitary retirement, or be mewed in a Cloyster.
• 3. A rich and a well-contrived marriage, that at once brought him a large Estate, and a larger Inte∣rest: the same tie that allied him to his Wives Fa∣mily, engaged him to many.
• 4. A great acquaintance with Noble Families, with whose dependants he got in first, devoting an hour a day for their company; and at last with themselves, laying aside his vacation-leisure for their service. He was Steward of 129 Mannors at once, and of Councel to 16 Noble-men.
• 5. His Hospitality and Entertainments. None more close than he abroad, none more noble at home; where many were tied to his Table, more obliged by his company and discourse.
• ...

• 6. His care and integrity in managing, his Re∣pute in promoting, his Reason and Eloquence in pleading, and his Success in carrying his causes.
• 7. His eminence and activity in the two profita∣ble Parliaments of Henry the seventh, where he had the hearts and purses of the people at his com∣mand, and the eye of his Sovereign upon his per∣son. It was thought a reward adequa••e to the greatest merit and adventure in the Grecian Wars, to have leave to play the Prizes at Olympus before Kings. It was judged the most ambition could aime at in King Henry the seventh's time, to ••hew a mans parts before his judicious and discerning Majesty; than whom none unde••s••ood Worth bet∣ter, none valued it higher.
• 8. His Opposition to Empson and Dudley's t••o severe Prosecution of Poe••al Laws, while Henry the seventh was living; and his laying of it befo••e him so faithfully, that he repented of it when he was a dying. He is high a while, that serves a Princes private interest; he is always so, that is careful of the publick good.
• 9. Hi•• entire Devotion to that sacred thing cal∣led Friendship, that Bliss on this side Heaven, made up of Peace and Love. None a worse Enemy, none a ••etter F••iend. Choice he was in commencing, but constant in continuing Friends: M••ny Ac∣quaintance, but few Friends, was his O••servation; ••••ying, He had been und••ne by his Acquaintance, had he not been raised by his Friends.
• 10. His care of time. To day I have not reigned, said the Emperour when he had done no good: To day I have not lived, said the Judge when he had done nothing. So much he prayed Morning,

• Evening, and at Noon, according to the way of those times, as if he never studied; so much he studied, as if he never practised; so great his practice, as if he never conversed; and so free his converse with others, as if he lived not at all to himself. Time (of which others are so prodigally expensive) was the only thing he could be honest∣ly covetous of: full whereof he died, leaving this instruction to posterity, That we should not com∣plain we have little time; but that we spend much either in doing nothing, or in doing evil, or in doing nothing to the purpose.