William Petre

Who was William Petre?

Sir William Petre was a secretary of state to Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.

Educated as a lawyer at Oxford, he became a public servant, probably through the influence of the Boleyns, one of whom, George, he had tutored at Oxford and another of whom, Anne, was married to the king. He rose rapidly in the royal service and, in 1543, was knighted.

Petre was adept at sidestepping the great religious controversies of the day and held high office through the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I until, owing to ill health he retired a rich man to Ingatestone, a village in Essex, where he had built Ingatestone Hall. He died in 1572. Sir William's son John Petre, 1st Baron Petre was created Baron of Writtle in 1603. The later Lords Petre have mostly been Catholics. Their name is pronounced "Peter".

William Byrd wrote a Pavan and a Galliard for Sir William Petre, which were published as part of his Parthenia.