29. Alice Perrers interfered so much; the English Parliament passed a law forbidding women from practicing in the law courts.
In 1366, the elderly Edward III of England surprised his court by taking up with a younger woman — after years of devotion to his wife. The lady in question was 18-year-old Alice Perrers, a former lady in waiting for the now-dying Queen Philippa. Edward supposedly became enamored with Alice because of her brains and wit. She certainly wielded considerable influence over her older lover — and made the most of it. During their time together, Edward awarded Alice wealth and land, and she used her power to help her friends in the law courts. Alice’s legal adventures so incensed the Royal family and Parliament that in 1376 Alice was banished and a law was passed banning women from practising law.
