WHITE, Giles (1512/13-74), of Winchester, Hants.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558, ed. S.T. Bindoff, 1982
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

b. 1512/13. m. Thomasin, 4s. 3da.

Offices Held

Bailiff, Winchester 1552-3, mayor 1557-8, 1565-6.1

Biography

Giles White was active in city affairs from 1542, when he became a freeman of Winchester, being often employed on civic business in London, Salisbury and Southampton. A linen draper and mercer, he also had some legal knowledge: in 1551 he was licensed to plead in the town court, in 1564 he wadescribed by Bishop Horne as ‘White towards the law’, and he bequeathed ‘all my books of the law’ to his son Giles. His election to Parliament occurred during his first term as mayor.2

White testified at the trial of Bishop Gardiner in 1551 that he had been present at the bishop’s first sermon after his release from the Fleet prison: he assured the court that Gardiner had stressed the importance of obedience, and that he himself had ‘no affection but as truth requireth’. Together with other supporters of Gardiner he was listed among ‘mislikers of religion of the chief authority’ at Winchester in 1564.3

In October 1572 White was steward of the manor of Twyford near Winchester, the property of Sir Henry Seymour. By his will, drawn up in October 1571, he left all his goods to his wife, with gifts of money amounting to £116 to his children. He died on 25 May 1574.4

Ref Volumes: 1509-1558

Authors: Patricia Hyde / A. B. Rosen

Notes

  • 1. Aged 38 in 1551, Foxe, Acts and Mons. vi. 210. Hants RO, wills B1574; Stowe 846, f. 4v.
  • 2. Black Bk. of Winchester, ed. Bird, 168, 185; Hants RO, Winchester chamberlains’ accts.; wills B1574; E179/174/313; Cam. Misc. ix (3), 56.
  • 3. Foxe, vi. 210; Cam. Misc. ix (3), 56.
  • 4. C2/Eliz. I/B.26/63; Hants RO, wills B1574; Winchester ledger bk. 2, f. 266.