William More (died 1600) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids William More
Loseley House, the home of More
Born	30 January 1520
Died	20 July 1600(1600-07-20) (aged 80)
Spouse(s)	Mabel Dingley ​ (died)​ Margaret Daniell
Children	3, including Sir George and Elizabeth
Parent(s)	Sir Christopher More (father)

Sir William More (born January 30, 1520 – died July 20, 1600) was an important English gentleman from Loseley Park in Surrey. He was the son of Sir Christopher More. William More had a grand house built for him at Loseley Park. This house is still lived in by the More Molyneux family today.

William More was a Protestant, meaning he followed the Protestant Christian faith. He was very active in running his local area of Surrey. He served as the Sheriff and Vice-Admiral of Surrey. He also helped make sure the new religious rules set by Queen Elizabeth I were followed. He was a member of Parliament for the entire time Queen Elizabeth I was queen. He owned land in London where the first and second Blackfriars theatres were built. People at the time called him "the perfect Elizabethan country gentleman." This was because he had a great character and worked very hard and well.

William More's Family Life

William More was the son of Sir Christopher More of Loseley. His father was a high-ranking official in the government's money department. William's mother was Margaret Mugge. She was from Guildford, Surrey. William also had four brothers. All of them died without having children. He had seven sisters.

William More married his first wife, Mabel Dingley, around 1545. She was from the Isle of Wight. They did not have any children together. After Mabel died, William married Margaret Daniell in 1551. She was from Norfolk. William and Margaret had one son and two daughters. Their son, George More, was born in 1553.

William More's Career and Public Service

Early Political Steps

We don't know much about William More's early schooling. But he started his political life very early. He was chosen to be a member of Parliament in 1539. This was during the time of King Henry VIII. In 1547, both William and his father were elected to Parliament. His father represented the whole county of Surrey. William represented the town of Reigate.

William More was careful not to get involved in the big political fights during King Edward VI's rule. He especially stayed away from attempts to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne. William was a Protestant. He was good friends with William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton. Northampton was the brother of Henry VIII's last wife.

Serving Queen Mary I

Even with his Protestant beliefs, William More continued his political work. This was true even when Queen Mary I changed the country back to Catholicism. He was elected three times as a Member of Parliament for Guildford. This happened in 1553, 1554, and 1555. In 1555, More disagreed with the government. He was even questioned for "bad words" in 1556. He was also told off for not looking into secret religious meetings in 1557. Despite this, the Privy Council gave him important jobs during Queen Mary's last months.

The Elizabethan Era

When Elizabeth I of England became queen in 1558, William More's career really took off. Queen Elizabeth was a Protestant. More quickly received many important jobs. He was the Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in 1558-1559. He became Vice-Admiral of Sussex in 1559. He was also a forest officer for Windsor Forest in 1561. In 1565, he became the Constable of Farnham Castle. From 1569, he was a Deputy Lieutenant for Surrey and Sussex. He served in every Parliament during Queen Elizabeth's long reign.

Building Loseley House

From 1562 to 1568, William More built Loseley House. It is in Artington, Surrey. People called it "the best house of its time in the county." The house is made of grey stone. It has many windows with stone bars. It has a main three-story part. There are large gables at each end and two gabled sections in the middle.

The main hall is very large, about 42 feet long and 25 feet wide. It has a special window with glass painted with the More family's coat of arms. The house was meant to have a square shape with more wings. But only one extra wing was built by his son, George More. That wing was later taken down.

Queen Elizabeth likely visited Loseley in 1567 and 1569. The house was almost finished then. She definitely visited in 1577. This was the year after William More was made a knight. He was Sheriff of Surrey a second time in 1579-1580.

Helping the Earl of Southampton

William More was appointed to a special group for church matters in 1572. He worked hard to make sure religious changes were followed. He dealt with different religious groups and Catholics who did not follow the new rules. Even so, More was a lifelong friend of Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montague. Montague had Catholic beliefs.

More was also a friend of Montague's son-in-law, Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampton. Southampton was kept at More's home in Loseley twice. In 1570, the Privy Council placed Southampton in More's care. This happened after Southampton secretly met with a bishop. More was told to make sure Southampton attended Protestant church services. Southampton did so and was allowed to leave in November 1570.

However, in 1571, the bishop told about his secret meeting with Southampton. Southampton was arrested and put in the Tower. When he was released in 1573, he was again sent to More's home at Loseley. He stayed there until July. Montague was very thankful for More's kindness. Southampton and More remained good friends.

William More and the Blackfriars Theatres

In 1550, King Edward VI gave a large part of the old Blackfriars monastery in London to Sir Thomas Cawarden. Cawarden was William More's friend. Cawarden died in 1559. More, who was in charge of Cawarden's will, bought the property that year.

More leased part of this land in 1560. It was later turned into a playhouse for child actors. The person leasing it then sublet parts of it. This caused problems. The first Blackfriars Theatre was eventually closed in 1584 after More won a legal case.

In 1596, William More sold part of his Blackfriars land for £600 to James Burbage. Burbage turned it into the second Blackfriars Theatre. However, people living in the area complained. The Privy Council then stopped plays from being performed there.

Later Years and Legacy

William More was made a knight in 1576. This happened at Pyrford, Surrey, with Queen Elizabeth present. It seems the Queen visited Loseley Park two more times, in 1583 and 1591. In Parliament, More continued to serve. He was a Member for Surrey in 1584 and 1586. He was also a Member for Guildford in 1589 and 1597. He became a high-ranking financial officer in 1591. He held this job until he died.

Sir William More died on July 20, 1600. He was buried in the Loseley Chapel at St. Nicolas' Church, Guildford. His son, Sir George More, set up a large tomb for him. The tomb shows Sir William and his second wife, Margaret Daniel, and their three children. Sir William is shown in armor with a sword and a long beard.

Many letters and papers about Sir William More still exist today. They are called the Loseley manuscripts. These papers include letters about him buying paintings for his home.

William More's Marriages and Children

William More married his first wife, Mabel Dingley, before June 12, 1545. She was from the Isle of Wight. They did not have any children. After she died, More married Margaret Daniell by 1551. She was the daughter of Ralph Daniell. William and Margaret had one son and two daughters:

• Sir George More: He married twice. First, he married Anne Poynings. Second, he married Constance Michell. Sir George More had one son, Sir Robert More, and five daughters. One of his daughters, Anne, married the famous poet John Donne.
• Elizabeth More: She married three times. Her third husband was Lord Chancellor Egerton, a very important judge.
• Anne More (died 1624): She married Sir George Mainwaring.