Alice Wilkes
Alice Wilkes (also spelt Welkes, married name Alice Restwold) was an English servant to Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England and was a significant witness in Queen Catherine's trial for treason and adultery.
Biography
[edit]Wilkes was member of the household of Agnes Howard, Duchess of Norfolk, with Catherine Howard.[1] When Catherine became queen, Wilkes was appointed as one of her chamberers.[2] Catherine Howard gave Wilkes "upper and nether habiliments of goldsmith's work for the French hood and a tablet of gold".[3]
Wilkes was a significant witness in Queen Catherine's trial for treason and adultery.[4] She was first questioned about her former mistress on 5 November 1541 and by 22 December had "pleaded guilty to misprision of treason as having concealed the facts of the Queen’s behaviour."[5]
After questioning, Wilkes informed that Francis Dereham had spent his nights in Catherine’s bed whilst in the household of Agnes Howard 1538, prior to her marriage to the King.[6] Wilkes also slept in this bed and was allegedly "so irritated by the couples puffing and blowing" as they had sex that she asked to switch beds.[7]
Alice's husband was Anthony Restwold,[7] the son of Edward Restwold and Agnes Restwold (née Cheyne, later Waterton). He was a Member (MP) of the Parliament of England for New Woodstock in November 1554 and for Aylesbury in 1555.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Clark, Nicola (26 July 2018). Gender, Family, and Politics: The Howard Women, 1485-1558. Oxford University Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-19-108765-3.
- ^ Norrie, Aidan; Harris, Carolyn; Laynesmith, J. L.; Messer, Danna R.; Woodacre, Elena (20 July 2022). Tudor and Stuart Consorts: Power, Influence, and Dynasty. Springer Nature. pp. 125, 131. ISBN 978-3-030-95197-9.
- ^ Tallis, Nicola (29 November 2022). All the Queen's Jewels, 1445–1548: Power, Majesty and Display. Taylor & Francis. p. 221. ISBN 978-1-000-78708-5.
- ^ Hutchinson, Robert (4 April 2019). Henry VIII: The Decline and Fall of a Tyrant. Orion. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-4746-0581-6.
- ^ a b "RESTWOLD, Anthony (by 1517-55/60), of The Vache, Bucks". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
- ^ Wilkinson, Josephine (7 April 2016). Katherine Howard: The Tragic Story of Henry VIII's Fifth Queen. John Murray Press. ISBN 978-1-4447-9628-5.
- ^ a b Russell, Gareth (4 April 2017). Young and Damned and Fair: The Life of Catherine Howard, Fifth Wife of King Henry VIII. Simon and Schuster. pp. 59, 76. ISBN 978-1-5011-0863-1.