Background
He was born in Bedfordshire, second son of John Winch (died 1598) of Northill. He married Cicely Onslow, daughter of Richard Onslow (died 1571), Speaker of the House of Commons, and his wife Catherine Harding.
He was born in Bedfordshire, second son of John Winch (died 1598) of Northill. He married Cicely Onslow, daughter of Richard Onslow (died 1571), Speaker of the House of Commons, and his wife Catherine Harding.
Street John"s College.
He matriculated from Street John"s College, Cambridge. Was called to the Bar in 1581 and became a bencher of Lincoln"s Inn in 1596. He enjoyed the patronage of Oliver Street John, 3rd Baron Street John of Bletso.
Through Street John"s influence he was elected to the House of Commons of England as member for Bedford in 1593, and served in each successive Parliament up to 1606.
Compared to the fate of Wentworth, who was sent to the Tower of London and died there three years later, Winch"s punishment was mild: he was forbidden to leave London for a time, but allowed to continue to attend Parliament. His disgrace was temporary, but thereafter he seems to have confined his speeches in the Commons to non-contentious matters.
In 1606, despite his earlier conflict with the Crown, he was recommended to King James I as a man suitable for judicial appointment by reason of his legal ability and integrity. Foreign this purpose he was made a serjeant-at-law and knight, then appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.
He received glowing reports as a judge, being praised as "understanding and painstaking".
Francis Bacon said that Winch"s qualities of "quickness, industry and dispatch" made him a model for other judges. After two years he was promoted to Lord Chief Justice of the King"s Bench in Ireland. Winch disliked the Irish climate and complained of its effect on his health, and also grumbled about the lack of staff to support him and the "humiliating" fees he received.
From 1610 onwards he was lobbying for a return to England.
Despite the reluctance of the Dublin Government to lose a valued Crown servant, he was transferred to the English Court of Common Pleas in 1611. He returned to Ireland on official business in 1613, and was regarded as an expert on Irish matters, sitting on the Privy Council committees on Irish affairs
Winch"s illustrious reputation as a judge was dealt a serious blow by his conduct at the summer assizes in Leicester in 1616. The judges, Winch and Ranulph Crewe, found the boy to be 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.
Despite the damage to his reputation Winch remained on the bench until he died suddenly at Chancery Lane from a stroke in February 1625.
He was conscientious in going on assize and was regular in attendance at the Court of Castle Chamber (the Irish Star Chamber).