 The date of Newport's admission to the Inner Temple is the main guide to his date of birth.The parliament noted that he had paid a fine of 26s 8d or two marks to be excused holding any office at his Inn or having to attend during the vacations, these being the vacation periods at the law courts, when important academic lectures and discussions were scheduled for the students.This suggests that his legal education was never intended to be at a professional level, but simply the rudiments useful to a future landowner and local politician.