Sir John Fortescue Chief Justice [19254] ²⁵

  General Notes:

FORTESCUE FAMILY
Founder of the FILLEIGH LINE
http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/FORTESCUE2.htm#John%20FORTESCUE%20(Sir%20Chief%20Justice)1

Educated at Exeter College, Oxford. During the reign of Henry VI he was three times appointed one of the governors of Lincoln's Inn. In 1441 he was made a King's sergeant at law, and in the following year Lord Chief Justice <http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/lord_chief_justice.htm> of the King's bench. As a judge Fortescue was recommended for his wisdom, gravity and uprightness; and he is said to have been favoured by the King.
He held his office during the remainder of the reign of Henry VI, to whom he was loyal; as a result, he was attainted of treason in the first parliament of Edward IV. When Henry subsequently fled into Scotland, he is supposed to have appointed Fortescue, who appears to have accompanied him in his flight, Lord Chancellor <http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documents/Lords%20Chancellors.htm> of England. In 1463 Fortescue accompanied Queen Margaret and her court in their exile on the Continent, and returned with them afterwards to England. During their wanderings abroad the chancellor wrote for the instruction of the young Prince Edward his celebrated work 'De laudibus legum Angliae'. On the defeat of the Lancastrian party he made his submission to Edward IV, from whom he received a general pardon dated Westminser, 13 Oct 1471. The exact date of his death is not known.
Fortescue's masterly vindication of the laws of England, though received with great favour by experts, did not appear in print until the reign of King Henry VIII <http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/aboutHenryVIII.htm>, when it was published, but without a date.

John married Isabella Jamys [19255] [MRIN: 9206].