Giles Du Wés (also recorded as Duwes, Du Guez, or Dewes) was a Flemish musician, tutor, and court official who served the English royal family during the Tudor period. Arriving in England from Flanders, he established himself as a versatile intellectual and educator, bridging continental European scholarship and the cultural life of the English court.
Throughout his career, Du Wés was entrusted with the education of several key Tudor royals. He served as the French tutor to Arthur, Prince of Wales, and his younger brother, the future King Henry VIII. Beyond language instruction, Du Wés was a skilled musician who taught Prince Henry to play the lute. His administrative and intellectual contributions to the court were further recognized when he was appointed as the King's librarian and "keeper of the wardrobe."
Du Wés also directed the education of Henry VIII's daughter, the future Queen Mary I. To assist in her studies, he composed An Introductorie for to lerne to rede, to pronounce and to speke French trewly, a detailed French grammar textbook tailored specifically for the young princess. This work remains a notable historical artifact of Tudor pedagogy. Du Wés remained active in his courtly duties until his death in 1535.
