Alice Perrers

Perrers, Alice (pĕr'ərz), d. 1400, mistress of Edward III of England. She entered the service of Edward's queen, Philippa of Hainaut, and married a courtier, Sir William de Windsor. Becoming the king's mistress possibly as early as 1366, she wielded great influence over him. Her interference in the promotion of lawsuits in the courts led to her banishment from the royal household by the Good Parliament of 1376. She returned in 1377 and later gained, despite another sentence of banishment, some favor and much wealth at the court of Richard II.