Robert Bowes (diplomat) facts for kids

Robert Bowes (around 1535–1597) was an important English diplomat. He served as the permanent ambassador to Scotland from 1577 to 1583. His job was to represent England's Queen Elizabeth I in Scotland and manage relationships between the two countries.

Robert Bowes's Family Life

Robert Bowes was the fifth son of Richard Bowes and Elizabeth Aske. He was the second son to survive into adulthood.

He had four older brothers: Ralph, Francis, George, and Christopher. He also had seven sisters: Bridget, Anne, Muriel, Margery (who married the Scottish reformer John Knox), Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jane.

Robert Bowes's Career and Public Service

Robert Bowes studied at Queens' College, Cambridge. He started his career working with his father to protect the borders between England and Scotland.

In 1569, he became the sheriff of county palatine of Durham. He helped his brother, Sir George Bowes, defend Barnard Castle during a rebellion. After this, he led a group of soldiers to protect the western borders. In 1571, he was chosen as a Member of Parliament for Carlisle.

In 1575, he became the treasurer of Berwick. This role involved many dealings with the Scottish royal court.

Diplomatic Missions in Scotland

In 1577, Robert Bowes was appointed ambassador to Scotland. He had several challenging tasks. He needed to reduce France's influence in Scotland and keep James VI (the Scottish king) friendly towards England. He also worked to unite Scottish nobles who supported England and create disagreements among those who did not.

In 1578, he skillfully resolved a conflict between James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton and the Scottish privy council. This prevented Scotland from falling into a civil war. In 1581, he worked hard to counter the growing influence of Esme Stewart, lord of Aubigné, over King James VI. He saw the events that led to the raid of Ruthven, which caused D'Aubigné's downfall. Bowes also tried to get hold of some important letters, but he was not successful.

In April 1583, he gave gold chains as gifts to two secret Scottish contacts. He believed King James VI was trying to remove him from his post. Bowes managed to be recalled from Scotland in 1583. However, he remained the treasurer of Berwick and often returned to Scotland for other diplomatic missions.

Around 1588 or 1589, a Scottish diplomat in London sent some of Bowes's household goods by sea. Sadly, pirates captured the ship.

Bowes met Anne of Denmark, King James VI's bride, on May 3, 1590. He told her that Queen Elizabeth was pleased with her letters. Anne said she was grateful for Queen Elizabeth's kindness.

Bowes attended St Giles Kirk in Edinburgh. The town council provided special velvet cushions for him and his wife, Eleanor Bowes, to sit on. He kept a chest in his Edinburgh home that contained copies of the family histories of Scottish nobles. His servant, George Nicholson, made copies of these for Lord Burghley. Eleanor Bowes held the key to this important chest.

Bowes stayed in the house of the Fowler family, which belonged to the widow Janet Fockart. In the early 1590s, Giacomo Castelvetro, an Italian writer who taught King James VI, also stayed there. Eleanor Bowes became friends with Castelvetro's wife.

Some of the information Bowes sent to England came from Scottish informers, whom he called "talesmen."

Robert Bowes and the Witchcraft Trials

On July 23, 1590, Bowes wrote to William Cecil about news of witchcraft trials in Denmark and arrests in Scotland. He mentioned that several people in Copenhagen were arrested for witchcraft. They were suspected of trying to stop the Queen of Scotland's journey and the King's return.

Bowes also wrote that several people in Edinburgh were found guilty of serious crimes, including making wax images to harm others. He described a woman from Lübeck who claimed to be a prophet.

In February 1591, a Scottish woman named Agnes Sampson was accused of witchcraft during the North Berwick Witch Trials. She claimed that Bowes had given her gold to make a charm to harm the king. Bowes noted that her description of him was incorrect. He arranged for English border officials to send any suspected witches fleeing to England back to Scotland.

Bowes was also concerned when an Irish rebel, Brian O'Rourke, arrived in Glasgow in February 1591, seeking King James VI's support. Bowes asked James VI to send O'Rourke to England. The king agreed, but O'Rourke's arrest caused a riot in Glasgow. People were angry because they thought it would hurt trade with Ireland. They also called the king's officers "Queen Elizabeth's knights" because the king received money from Queen Elizabeth. Bowes even helped pay off O'Rourke's debt with a tailor in Glasgow.

A person named Richie Graham was questioned about witchcraft and mentioned that a woman had told King James VI that Bowes was working against the king.

In July 1592, Bowes stopped a plan by the Earl of Bothwell and his followers to capture King James VI. An informer told Bowes about the plot in exchange for a reward. Bothwell had planned to wait for the king near the island of Inchkeith. When he realized his plan was discovered, he landed his boat at Wardie. Bowes heard that Bothwell had told his followers not to hurt the king.

Anne of Denmark and Edinburgh Life

Anne of Denmark told Bowes she wanted to meet Queen Elizabeth. She also wished to have a young English gentleman or lady of "good family" join her household. Bowes passed this request to William Cecil.

In July 1593, Bowes was asked to find out how King James VI had spent the money Queen Elizabeth gave him each year. Bowes stayed at the house of William Fowler in Edinburgh. On July 24, 1593, Bowes hosted the Danish ambassador, Steen Bille, at his lodging. The Earl of Bothwell was staying next door at the time. In September 1593, Bowes's wife, Eleanor Musgrave, hosted a dinner. They served venison in the English style for the Earl and Countess of Atholl, and the Earl and Countess of Bothwell also joined them.

In early 1595, Bowes and Alexander Home of North Berwick, the head of Edinburgh, took statements from the crew of a ship called the Bruce. This ship had been taken by English privateers and forced to carry enslaved Africans.

Anne of Denmark again expressed her desire for friendship with Elizabeth I in May 1595, asking for her portrait. There was no immediate reply, so Bowes had to repeat her request. Finally, in February 1596, Queen Elizabeth agreed to send her picture.

Princess Elizabeth's Christening

Bowes sent news about the birth of Princess Elizabeth at Dunfermline Palace. Her christening was planned for her mother's birthday, then changed to November 28, 1596, at Holyrood Palace. Bowes carried the baby to the chapel as the representative of Queen Elizabeth, who was the princess's godmother. The Duke of Lennox and the Earl of Mar helped him. However, Bowes did not have a gift from Queen Elizabeth. The officials of Edinburgh gave a gift of 10,000 Scottish merks to Anne of Denmark. Bowes noted that the princess would live at Linlithgow Palace with her keeper, Lady Livingstone.

In August 1597, Bowes wrote to Lord Burghley that the king was "troubled in the examination of the witches." This time became known as the "Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597." Around this time, Bowes and Alexander Home of North Berwick again took statements from the crew of the Bruce ship.

Robert Bowes's Death

Robert Bowes traveled to Scotland in the autumn of 1597, facing "dangerous tempests." He was ill, and there was a plague in Edinburgh. His wife waited for him in Berwick. When she heard his illness had worsened, she traveled to Edinburgh to meet him on October 6.

Bowes arrived back in Berwick on November 5, but he was very sick. He managed to write to William Cecil, asking that his son Ralph Bowes be allowed to pay the soldiers. He sent the letter with his servant.

Robert Bowes often paid for his work himself, and his reward was mostly the queen's thanks. Queen Elizabeth kept him in his important role until he died in Berwick on November 15 or 16, 1597.

The Scottish poet William Fowler wrote a poem about Bowes, praising his dedication to his queen and country.

After Bowes's death, his servant George Nicholson became the English diplomat in Scotland. A nephew of Sir Robert Bowes, William Bowes, also served as ambassador to Scotland in 1598 and 1601.

Robert Bowes's Marriages

Robert Bowes married his first cousin, Anne Bowes (who died around 1566). They had one son, Ralph Bowes (who died in 1623).

In 1566, he married his second wife, Eleanor Musgrave (1546–1623). She was the daughter of Sir Richard Musgrave. Robert and Eleanor did not have any children together.

In July 1596, Eleanor Bowes wrote a letter describing the uncertain times. In June 1601, she sent gifts to Anne of Denmark in Scotland.

Robert's sister, Marjory Bowes (who died in 1560), married the Scottish church reformer John Knox.