FORTESCUE, Sir JOHN (ante), an English lawyer in the time of Henry VI., descended front an ancient family in Devonshire. He was educated at Exeter college, Oxford. During the reign of Henry VI. he was three times appointed one of the gover nors of Lincoln's Inn. In 1441, he was a king's sergeant at law, and in the following year chief-justice of the king's bench. As a judge, Fortescue is highly commended for his wisdom, gravity, and uprightness; and he seems to hEive enjoyed great favor with. the king, who is said to have given him substantial proofs of esteem and regard. He held his office during the remainder of the reign of Henry VI., to whom he steadily adhered; and having faithfully served that unfortunate monarch in all his troubles, he was attainted of treason in the first parliament of Edward IV. When Henry subse quently fled into Scotland, he is supposed to have appointed Fortescue, who appears M have accompanied him in his flight, chancellor of England. In 1463, Fortescue accom panied 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 laudi bus eeguk Anglies, a masterly eulogy of the laws of England. On the defeat of the
Lancastrian party he made his submission to Edward IV., from whom he received a general pardon dated Westminster, Oct. 13, 1471. He died at an advanced age, but the date has not been ascertained. A valuable and learned work by F. written in Eng lish, was published in 1714, discussing the difference between an absolute and limited monarchy, as regards the English constitution. Of Fortescue's other writings, which were numerous, the most important are: Genealogy of the House of Lancaster; Genea logies Begun?, Scotia; A Dialogue between Understanding and Faith; and A Prayer Booh which savors much of the Times we live in.