Giles Duwes facts for kids

Giles Duwes (died 1535) was a talented man from Flanders (a region in Europe). He worked as a teacher and musician for the royal family in England during the time of the Tudor kings and queens.

He taught French to important royal children. These included Arthur, Prince of Wales, who was the older brother of the future King Henry VIII. Giles also taught Prince Henry himself, who later became King Henry VIII. Later, he taught French to Henry's daughter, Princess Mary, who would become Queen Mary I.

For Princess Mary, Giles Duwes wrote a special French grammar book. It was called An Introductorie for to lerne to rede, to pronounce and to speke French trewly. This book helped Mary learn to read, say, and speak French correctly.

Giles Duwes also taught Prince Henry how to play the lute, which is a stringed musical instrument. Besides teaching, he was also Prince Henry's librarian, looking after his books. He even helped manage the prince's clothes as the 'keeper of the wardrobe'.

Who Was Giles Duwes?

Giles Duwes, sometimes known as D'Ewes or Du Wes, was an important person at the English royal court. He came from Flanders, a historical area that today includes parts of Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. He lived in the 1500s, a time when England was ruled by the powerful Tudor family.

Teaching Royal Children

Giles Duwes had a very special job: he was a tutor to some of England's future rulers. He taught French to Arthur, Prince of Wales. Arthur was the first son of King Henry VII and was expected to become king.

After Arthur's death, Giles continued his important work. He then taught French to Prince Henry, who later became the famous King Henry VIII. Giles also taught French to Princess Mary, who was King Henry VIII's daughter. She later became Queen Mary I of England.

A Special French Book

To help Princess Mary learn French, Giles Duwes wrote a special book just for her. The book's long title was An Introductorie for to lerne to rede, to pronounce and to speke French trewly, compyled for the right high, excellent and most vertuous lady the Lady Mary of Englande, doughter of our most gracious soverayn Lorde Kyng Henry the Eight. This book was a guide to help Mary read, pronounce, and speak French correctly. It shows how dedicated Giles Duwes was to his royal students.

More Than Just French

Giles Duwes was not only a French teacher. He also taught Prince Henry how to play the lute. The lute was a popular musical instrument during the Tudor period. It looked a bit like a guitar with a rounded back.

Besides his teaching and music roles, Giles Duwes also had other duties for Prince Henry. He was the prince's librarian, meaning he was in charge of his books. He was also the 'keeper of the wardrobe', which meant he helped manage the prince's clothes and personal belongings.