Editing Edward III of England (section)

==== Alice Perrers ====
{{Main|Alice Perrers}}

[[Alice Perrers]] was originally one of Philippa's household ladies, having been appointed by 1359.{{Sfn|Ormrod|2006|p=223}} Within five years, by which time she would have been 18, and after the death of her husband, she is speculated to have become the lover of the elderly King. She maintained an active business life outside her career in the royal household, particularly as a [[moneylender]], while also making the most out of her royal connections, accepted gifts from courtiers and those wishing to further their causes with the King. Edward presented her with gifts, including land, manors and jewels, and in 1371 these included those of the now-dead Philippa. Alice, in what may have been an attempt to keep her new estates after the King's death, tied them up in a series of [[Feoffment|enfeoffments]]. This meant that legally they ceased to be royal gifts which could be [[Eminent domain#United Kingdom|resumed]] to the Crown, but hers to receive from her feoffees when she chose.{{Sfn|Given-Wilson|2004}} These gifts included 50 manors in 25 counties and £20,000 in jewels.{{Sfn|Bothwell|1998|p=31}} The contemporary chronicler [[Thomas Walsingham]] saw her as a low-born woman who, through her own ambition, made a fortune from the besotted King;{{Sfn|Ormrod|2006|p=225}} and this was the popular view presented to the [[Good Parliament]] of 1376, in which she was also accused of taking 2000 to 3000 [[Avoirdupois|pounds]] in gold and silver per annum from the [[royal treasury]].{{Sfn|Bothwell|1998|p=31}} Another contemporary, the [[St Mary's Abbey, York|Anonimalle Chronicler]], complained that this was all "without any notable profit and in great damage to our lord the king",{{Sfn|Bothwell|1998|p=32}} and argued that Alice be removed from the King's circle even though he was still living, albeit known to be dying.{{Sfn|Bothwell|1998|p=32}} Modern historians have credited her with more agency than merely using "womanly wiles" to get her own way, noting her head for business and the law.{{Sfn|Bothwell|1998|p=33}} Bothwell also notes that she probably recognised the precariousness of her own position after the King had died – "which it was obvious to all in the 1370s was imminent"{{Sfn|Bothwell|1998|p=34}} – and intended much of her wealth to provide for her two daughters, whose lives would be even more precarious in the following reign.{{Sfn|Bothwell|1998|pp=35–36}} She was correct in her surmise: by the time the Good Parliament met, Edward was too weak but to acquiesce in her [[banishment]]. This did not, however, last very long; she had returned to his inner circle later that year and remained there until his death. However, in 1378 her previous fears resurfaced, and this time put on trial before Parliament in the first year of [[Richard II]]'s reign. She was found guilty and sentenced to be exiled. Further, her property was forfeited to the Crown.{{Sfn|Ormrod|2008}}