William de Mowbray

William de Mowbray (–), lord of Thirsk and Mowbray, was a Norman lord and English noble who was one of the twenty-five executors of Magna Carta. He was described as being as small as a dwarf but very generous and valiant. Family origin William was the eldest son of Nigel de Mowbray, who died on crusade at Acre in 1191, by Mabel, probably daughter of William de Patri. His paternal grandfather was Roger de Mowbray. Career under Richard I Mowbray was in the company of Richard I in Speyer, Germany, on 20 November 1193 during Richard's period of captivity, perhaps having accompanied the monarch on his return from Palestine. In 1194 he had livery of his lands, paying a relief of £100. He was immediately called upon to pay a sum nearly as large as his share of the scutage levied towards Richard's ransom, for the payment of which he was one of the hostages. William was later a witness to Richard's treaty with Baldwin of Flanders in 1197. Career under John In 1215 Mowbray was prominent with other north-country barons in opposing King John. He was appointed one of the twenty-five executors of Magna Carta, and as such was specially named among those excommunicated by Pope Innocent III. His youngest brother, Roger, has sometimes been reckoned as one of the twenty-five, apparently by confusion with, or as a substitute for, Roger de Mumbezon. Roger died without heirs about 1218, and William received his lands.