Alice Perrers

Alice Perrers seated to the right of Edward III, listening to Chaucer.

Alice Perrers 

There is no known birth record of Alice Perrers, this is presumably because Perrers was a married name, however she was believed to have been born c1348 and she is believed to have died c1400/1.

She became the mistress of Edward III after serving as a member of Queen Phillipa of Hainault, Edward's wife's household. It is believed this occured around the year 1366, when Alice was 18 years of age.

In 1368, Alice had the manor of Fyllyngley for 3 years by the grant of Edmund del Clay. How did their path's cross?.

Alice and Edward III had three children together before Phillipa  died in 1369.

From 1369 onwards, Alice's power over Edward III grew, unpopular at court, she exploited her position to amass a fortune, enough to be called the richest woman in England. She was also feared, as her hold over Edward III grew as he ailed and started to become senile.

To ensure her safety,  in November 1375, she secretly married Sir William Windsor, one of the King's lieutenants in Ireland.

The Good Parliament in 1376 introduced a bill that was specifically aimed at Alice, although it was couched in terms to include all women. It was  designed to set penalties for women who interfere with the process of law.

Her land's forefeit and tried on charges of corruption, she went into exile. In late 1377, Edmund del Clay appears to represent Alice and Sir William and in 1378 Alice and Sir William tried to reverse the previous decision of the court through ther attorney's Edmund del Clay and Robert Brown.

Was the voyage below, taken on behalf of Alice Perrers?.

In the Calendar of the Close Rolls, June 20th 1377,  membrane 4d, we have.

To the Keepers of the Passage in the Port of London, Dovorre or Sandewich. Order to permit Robert Eure, Edmund del Clay, Nicholas Potyn and John Dovy, three and two of them, in one of those Ports to pass by Sea without a License with twelve Servants and sixteen Horses in their Company, carrying £5,000 Sterling both in Money and Jewels, notwithstanding any Order of the King previously addressed to the Keepers to the contrary; for they travel thither with the King's License.

From the National Archives  SC 8/18/891 

William de Wyndesore and Alice his wife state that there are several errors in the record, process and judgment brought against Alice, under the name of Alice Perrers, in the last parliament held at Westminster. They request permission to sue by the law of the land in parliament to reverse that judgment, notwithstanding Alice's banishment by that judgment and that they might do so by their attorneys, Edmund del Clay and Robert Brom of Warwick, jointly and separately in the said case.

Alice was given leave by the court  to appeal and it would appear that Edmund and Robert were successful as Alice and Sir William had some but not all lands returned to them.

The Royal treasurer, Thomas Brantingham confiscated nearly 22,000 pearls from Alice in 1379.

Perrers had possessed 56 manor's, castles and town houses in England, only a small amount of which had been gifted by King Edward III, which possibly means she may have extorted the rest from other members of the King's court.

Sir William Windsor died in September 1384 and  Alice died c1440/01 and she was buried in the church of St Laurence, Upminster.

Petition of Sir William Windsor and Alice Perrers. NA SC8/18/891