WYLDE (WILDE), George I (1550-1616), of the Harriots, Droitwich, Worcs. and the Inner Temple, London; later of Serjeants’ Inn, Fleet Street, London

Wylde came from a prominent family of Worcester clothiers, but as a younger son he entered the law. From his mother he inherited property in Droitwich, including salt bullaries, the prerequisite of membership of the corporation, and the manor of Impney, one mile north-east of the borough. VCH Worcs. iii. 62; Survey of Worcs. by Thomas Habington, ii. 307; CPR, 1563-6, pp. 361-2. He twice sat in Parliament for Droitwich under Elizabeth and was described after his death as ‘a very learned man and chief burgess’ of the borough. C2/Jas.I/P21/35.

Wylde was re-elected for the borough in 1604, when he was appointed to bill committees to enable magistrates to release prisoners (31 Mar.), prevent secret outlawries (27 Apr.) and preserve coppices, underwoods and timber (28 April). On 4 July, three days before Parliament was prorogued, he moved for the bill for coppices and underwoods to be allowed to sleep until the next session. CJ, i. 160b, 187b, 189b, 252a. In 1606 he was appointed to a three-man committee to draft a bill to confirm the property of corporations given for charitable uses (4 Mar.) and was named to the committee for John Holdich’s bill (16 May). CJ, i. 277a, 309b. In the third session he was appointed to committees for bills concerning forcible entries bill (18 Feb.), jointures, and debts (26 February). CJ, i. 337a, 342b, 343a. In the fourth session he received only one committee nomination, for Beckham’s estate bill (21 February). CJ, i. 398a.

In 1614 Wylde was appointed a serjeant-at-law and, as the senior member of the call, thanked the lord chancellor (Thomas Egerton†) on behalf of his colleagues. Order of Sjts.-at-Law, 325-6. Wylde made a nuncupative will on 27 Mar. 1616 and died two days later at his home in the Harriots, Droitwich. He was buried that same day in the church of St. Peter de Witton, Droitwich, where a magnificent monument, depicting him in his legal robes, was erected. PROB 11/127, f. 248v; C142/356/104; Regs. Church of St. Peter de Witton, Droitwich (Birmingham and Midland Soc. for Genealogy and Heraldry, 1986), p. 139; Survey of Worcs. by Thomas Habington, i. 484. The monument states he died on 27 Mar. but also says this was Good Friday, which fell on the 29th. His i.p.m. states he died on the 29th. Both his sons, John and George, subsequently sat for Droitwich, as did his son-in-law, Walter Blount.