Wall monument to Sir Heneage Finch (1580-1631)

This monument to Sir Heneage Finch (1580–1631), Speaker of the House of Commons, is recorded in the account book of the sculptor Nicholas Stone, who agreed to carry out the work for £50. Heneage Finch’s parents, Sir Moyle and Lady Elizabeth Finch, are commemorated in a large table-top tomb also in the collection (Museum no. A.186-1969).

Nicholas Stone was the foremost British sculptor of his day, and was trained in the Netherlands, where he learned the art of carving marble. With the onset of the Civil War in 1642 he evidently ceased working, and the sculptural tradition in Britain generally was not revived again until the late 17th century.

The Latin inscription can be translated as follows:
‘To Heneage Finch, the radiant knight who served London as Recorder for
decades, Member of Parliament, and under King Charles Speaker of the House of Commons.
To Moyle and Elizabeth Finch, the latter having survived her husband, and elevated the titles of the Viscountess of Maidstone and Countess of Winchilsea.
To the best son, husband, employer and friend, from Elizabeth his second wife. Who came from the ancient family of Cradock. One of two daughters, having survived her husband by two years, two months and seven days.
He most serenely gave up his soul into the hands of his Saviour when he was taken away by the dropsy on the 5 September 1631.
He lived fifty years eleven months and five days.
Francis his brother, and heir (together with Thomas Twisden his brother-in-law) erected this small monument with enormous sorrow and grief.
Alas, you (O Lord who will never die) have assigned too hastily this burial amongst those still living.
Renowned virtue never denies death nor does measured faith, unsurpassed zeal and gracious justice.
Among those who were best versed in religious text, you were second to none in virtue.
Taken into the heavens by the Lord, how envious are we who survive. They will hardly see your equal on earth in future times’.