Humphrey Winch
Encyclopedia
Sir Humphrey Winch was a judge who had a distinguished career in Ireland and England, but whose reputation was seriously damaged by the Leicester witch trials of 1616.
, second son of John Winch of Northhill. He married Cicely Onslow and they had two surviving children; their grandson, also Humphrey Winch, was created a baronet
.
; was called to the Bar in 1581 and became a bencher of Lincoln's Inn
in 1596. He was elected to the House of Commons of England
as member for Bedford in 1593. In 1606 he was recommended as a man suitable for judicial appointment by reason of ability and integrity. For this purpose he was made a serjeant and knighted, then appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.
He received glowing reports as a judge, being praised as " understanding and painstaking ". Francis Bacon
himself said that Winch's " quickness, industry and dispatch " were a model for other judges. After two years he was promoted to Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland .Winch however disliked the Irish climate and complained of its effect on his health; from 1610 he was lobbying for a return to England. Despite the reluctance of the Dublin Government, in 1611 he was transferred to the English Court of Common Pleas
.
in 1616. Fifteen women had been charged with witchcraft on the sole evidence of a young boy. The judges Winch and Ranulph Crewe
found the boy a credible witness and while a number of the accused were spared, nine were condemned and hanged. A month after the hangings King James I
visited Leicester; having a keen interest in witchcraft, he examined the boy and promptly declared him a fraud.
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Family
He was born in BedfordshireBedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, second son of John Winch of Northhill. He married Cicely Onslow and they had two surviving children; their grandson, also Humphrey Winch, was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
.
Career
He matriculated from St. John's College, University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
; was called to the Bar in 1581 and became a bencher of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1596. He was elected to the House of Commons of England
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
as member for Bedford in 1593. In 1606 he was recommended as a man suitable for judicial appointment by reason of ability and integrity. For this purpose he was made a serjeant and knighted, then appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.
He received glowing reports as a judge, being praised as " understanding and painstaking ". Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
himself said that Winch's " quickness, industry and dispatch " were a model for other judges. After two years he was promoted to Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland .Winch however disliked the Irish climate and complained of its effect on his health; from 1610 he was lobbying for a return to England. Despite the reluctance of the Dublin Government, in 1611 he was transferred to the English Court of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas (England)
The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...
.
Leicester witch trials
Winch's illustrious reputation was dealt a serious blow by his conduct at the summer assizes in LeicesterLeicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in 1616. Fifteen women had been charged with witchcraft on the sole evidence of a young boy. The judges Winch and Ranulph Crewe
Ranulph Crewe
Sir Ranulph Crewe was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:...
found the boy a credible witness and while a number of the accused were spared, nine were condemned and hanged. A month after the hangings King James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
visited Leicester; having a keen interest in witchcraft, he examined the boy and promptly declared him a fraud.
Death
Despite the damage to his reputation Winch remained on the bench until his death from a stroke in February 1625. An impressive memorial was raised to him in his local church at EvertonEverton, Bedfordshire
Everton is a small village and civil parish located in north Bedfordshire, England. Everton has no shop but is home to a pub, local church, and a lower school...
.