Alice Wilkes

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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

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

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Hutchinson, Robert (4 April 2019). Henry VIII: The Decline and Fall of a Tyrant. Orion. p. 78. ISBN   978-1-4746-0581-6.
  5. 1 2 "RESTWOLD, Anthony (by 1517-55/60), of The Vache, Bucks". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. 1 2 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.
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