Jerome Bowie facts for kids
Jerome Bowie (who died in 1597) was an important helper for James VI of Scotland, the King of Scotland. Jerome was known as the King's sommelier, which meant he was in charge of buying and serving all the wine for the King's household. He was also called the Master of the Wine Cellar.
Jerome Bowie's family came from a town called Stirling. His father, Andrew Bowie, was likely a gunner, someone who operated cannons. Andrew worked for Regent Arran, a powerful ruler at the time.
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Jerome Bowie's Early Life and Work
Jerome Bowie first started working for the Earl of Mar. He even helped keep track of money spent by James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran when Arran was held in Edinburgh Castle in 1564. The Earl of Mar was in charge of Edinburgh Castle then.
In March 1568, Jerome Bowie joined the new team helping the young King James. He worked in the wine cellar at Stirling Castle. A year later, in February 1569, Regent Moray, who ruled Scotland, bought a horse from Bowie for £30. This horse was for the King's tailor, James Inglis. In April 1569, Jerome Bowie was officially made the Master of the King's Wine Cellar.
In June 1576, Bowie received new black clothes and hats. These were given to him and four other royal helpers at Stirling. This was to make sure they looked good when serving the King, especially when important visitors were around.
How Jerome Bowie Managed the King's Wine
As the person who supplied wine to the King, Jerome Bowie had a lot of power in the Scottish wine business. The city council of Edinburgh was interested in his job. In May 1578, they didn't like that someone else, Thomas Lindsay, was also buying wine for the King. The council said that city merchants could easily supply all the wine needed for the royal family.
In March 1579, William Murray, who managed the King's household, spoke to the Privy Council. He said that Jerome Bowie was allowed to "visit, taste, and take wines" for the King's house at fair prices. Even though Bowie had the power to search for good wine in shops and on ships, some merchants didn't cooperate. The leader of Edinburgh, Archibald Stewart, and others tried to defend the merchants. But the Privy Council wasn't convinced and set prices for different types of wine.
In 1589, Bowie traveled with King James to Norway and Denmark. The King was going to meet his future wife, Anne of Denmark. While in Denmark, Bowie bought baskets to pack glasses for the ship. He also bought local beer for the trip back to Scotland.
In October 1590, Bowie and Andrew Melville made a list of all the silver items used by the King and Queen. This list included two silver ships and a special cup made from an ostrich egg, decorated with silver and gold.
Bowie and the "sugar man," probably Jacques de Bousie, bought drinking glasses and dessert bowls. These were for a big party held during the baptism of Prince Henry in August 1594. Bowie often brought drinking glasses and bottles for the King's cellar from France.
The Wine Tax and Royal Conflict
Most of the records of wine bought by Bowie for King James VI and Anne of Denmark are now lost. However, we know that much of the wine was bought using a special tax called the "Impost of Wines." This tax was managed by John Arnot. Records show that wine was delivered to Jerome Bowie for the King and to John Bog for the Queen. The wine included sweet Spanish wine.
This system sometimes caused problems with merchants. Wine importers would ask for money back from the tax if wine leaked or barrels were empty. In 1599, an angry Edinburgh citizen named James Forman went into Queen Anne's room at Holyroodhouse. He complained about different rules, including the wine tax. This event shows that Queen Anne was involved in public matters. King James VI was even upset about her involvement in the wine trade in March 1601.
Jerome Bowie's Family and Homes
Jerome Bowie married Margaret Douchall. She was the King's laundress, meaning she washed the King's personal clothes. She took over this job from her mother, Margaret Balcomie, who had washed clothes for Mary, Queen of Scots, many years before.
In 1579, King James VI moved to Holyrood Palace. He ordered two new wash houses to be built there for Margaret Douchall. A room at Holyroodhouse was also fixed up for Jerome Bowie and his wife with new windows.
Jerome Bowie also bought two houses in Edinburgh's Canongate area. These houses used to belong to a famous stonemason named Gilbert Cleuch. Bowie's son, James Bowie, owned both houses in 1617. Later, in 1642, his daughter Anna Bowie owned them. Eventually, these houses became part of Queensberry House, which is now part of the Scottish Parliament buildings.
Margaret Douchall also worked for Anne of Denmark at Dunfermline Palace in 1600. This was when the Queen was expecting Prince Charles. Records show that beds were provided for the Queen's doctor and for "Jerie Bowie's wyffe."
Jerome and Margaret had three sons and three daughters. Their children included James and Agnes Bowie, who also worked at the royal court.
Jerome Bowie passed away in Stirling in October 1597. Since he was from Stirling, he asked to be buried in his family's special area in the Church of the Holy Rude.
Agnes Bowie's Royal Service
Agnes Bowie, Jerome's daughter, became a laundress for King James when he moved to England. She earned £20 a year. In January 1606, she gave King James a fancy handkerchief with gold lace as a New Year's gift. Her husband, Francis Galbraith, worked in the royal pantry.
James Bowie's Career at Court
James Bowie, Jerome's oldest son, also became a royal sommelier. From 1594, he worked for Prince Henry at Stirling. When the King moved to London, James went with them and became the Sergeant of the Cellar. In July 1608, James Bowie was given £100 to travel to France to find wines for the King. He was sent to France again in September 1617 with £400.
James Bowie returned to Scotland with King James in 1617. He was made a citizen of Edinburgh. Like his father, James Bowie was in charge of gold and silver items. He was once fined when a piece broke off a gold cup and was lost. James Bowie was also involved in some of the plays written by Ben Jonson. He seems to be the "young Bowie" that King James sent to Spain in 1623. He carried a message to Prince Charles and the Duke of Buckingham during a time when they were trying to arrange a marriage with a Spanish princess.
