William Fowler (makar) facts for kids

William Fowler (born around 1560, died 1612) was a talented Scottish poet, writer, and translator. He was also a courtier, meaning he worked closely with the royal family.

Early Life and Studies

William Fowler grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland. His mother was Janet Fockart, and his father, also named William Fowler, was a successful merchant who sold fancy fabrics.

William went to St Leonard's College at St Andrews University and finished his studies in 1578. By 1581, he was in Paris, France, studying law. While there, he wrote a pamphlet that criticized some Scottish Catholics. This led to a difficult encounter where he was confronted by two Scottish Catholics, John Hamilton and Hay.

Spying in London

After returning to Scotland, William Fowler traveled to London, England. He went there to collect money that Mary, Queen of Scots owed his father.

In London, he often visited the home of a French ambassador, where he met a famous philosopher named Giordano Bruno. Soon, William was asked by Francis Walsingham, a powerful English spy master, to work as a secret agent. He spied until 1583.

During this time, the French ambassador showed Fowler some of Mary, Queen of Scots' letters. Fowler then told Walsingham what was in them. He also reported on a goldsmith named John Mosman, who was carrying Mary's secret letters.

Fowler's letters show that his widowed mother was worried about his dangerous work in London. Secret coded letters found later showed that Mary, Queen of Scots, did not trust Fowler.

A Career at Court

In 1584, William Fowler met a German traveler in Edinburgh and told him that he was teaching King James VI the "art of memory". This was a special technique to help remember things. Fowler later wrote that while he taught the King about memory, the King taught him about poetry and emblems (pictures with hidden meanings).

Fowler became part of a group of writers and poets around King James VI, known as the "Castalian Band". This group included other famous poets like Alexander Montgomerie and even King James himself.

In 1591, Fowler wrote a poem for King James's book of poetry. In return, King James praised Fowler's translation of a famous Italian poem called the Triumphs of Petrarke. Fowler dedicated his Triumphs to Jean Fleming, the wife of a powerful Scottish official.

William Fowler also translated works from the Italian writer Ariosto and dedicated one to Mary Beaton, who was a former companion of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary Beaton was also part of Fowler's writing group.

Secretary to the Queen

In 1589, Fowler was chosen for an important diplomatic mission to Denmark. His job was to help arrange the marriage of James VI to Anne of Denmark. He also worked as a paid negotiator for the city of Edinburgh, helping to raise its importance.

Fowler sent letters from Denmark to the English ambassador in Scotland, William Ashby, about how the marriage talks were going.

King James sailed to Norway to meet his future wife. On November 28, 1589, in Oslo, Fowler was given two important jobs: private secretary and Master of Requests to Anne of Denmark. He kept these positions even after Anne moved to England.

Fowler returned to Scotland before King James. An English diplomat reported that Fowler had found two coded letters. One was for a Scottish Earl, and the other was for someone mysteriously called "Assuerus the Painter." Fowler gave these letters to the leader of Edinburgh to show to the Scottish Privy Council (a group of royal advisors).

In 1591, Fowler left Scotland for a while and may have studied at the University of Padua in Italy. During this time, an Italian writer named Giacomo Castelvetro worked for King James and Queen Anne as a language tutor.

Fowler also taught Queen Anne the art of memory and wrote a book about it, which is now lost.

Prince Henry's Baptism Masque

In 1594, Fowler wrote about the special shows and entertainment for the baptism of Prince Henry, the King and Queen's son.

At the feast after the baptism at Stirling Castle, a "Moore or Blackamoor" (a Black actor) pretended to pull a large decorated cart with six ladies holding desserts. The cart was actually moved by hidden workers. Fowler described it as being moved by "secret convoy." This actor's performance was a last-minute replacement for a lion. The women on the cart represented important ideas like plenty, faith, and perseverance.

In 1598, Fowler agreed to send secret information from the royal court to England. He was known by the code name 'Ib' in these secret letters.

After King James VI became King of England in 1603 (an event called the Union of the Crowns), Fowler wrote a note describing the special emblems sewn onto a bed that belonged to Mary, Queen of Scots. This bed was at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh.

Life in England

William Fowler was confirmed as Queen Anne's secretary and Master of Requests in England. He traveled with the royal family and visited places like Wilton House. In August 1603, he visited Loseley Park and wrote a poem about a clock he saw there.

In September 1603, he met Arbella Stuart, a cousin of the King, at Woodstock Palace. He wrote two poems, one for her, and another that included a hidden message using parts of her name. He sent these poems to the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury, calling Arbella the "eighth wonder of the world."

In 1604, Fowler wrote to a powerful official, Lord Cecil, apologizing for delays in Queen Anne's business. He mentioned that some of the Queen's documents were held by her female servants.

In 1605, Queen Anne gave Fowler two portraits of important European figures. She was thinking of giving them to a friend in Scotland, but Fowler thought they would be better at Lord Cecil's house. For a while, the paintings were displayed at Somerset House.

In 1606, Fowler's older brother, who was a merchant in Edinburgh, died. The poet William Fowler then became a burgess (a respected citizen) of Edinburgh.

Fowler continued his work for Queen Anne, helping to manage her household and finances. In 1609, he received a large grant of land in Ulster (in Ireland) as a reward for his services to the Queen.

He wrote two poems for Mary Middlemore, a lady-in-waiting to the Queen. One of these poems included her name in a clever way.

In 1610, Fowler answered a question about the Order of the Thistle, a Scottish order of knighthood. He believed it was an old order created to honor Scots who fought for the King of France, but it had stopped being used long ago.

William Fowler died in 1612 and was buried in St Margaret's, Westminster in London. His will (his last wishes for his belongings) mentioned a gold chain with jewels and three diamond rings, which were gifts from Queen Anne. He left these to his brother John.

The Green Tree and the Anagram

At Denmark House, Queen Anne had a special green palm tree decoration. It had a crown and a Latin poem written in gold letters by Fowler. This poem was based on an anagram of Queen Anne's name: "Anna Brittanorum Regina" (Anne, Queen of the Britons) became "In anna regnantium arbor" (In Anne, a tree of rulers).

This anagram and an image of an olive tree with the initials of Queen Anne's children (Henry, Charles, and Elizabeth) were printed in a book in 1612.

The poem on the tree meant: "Fresh budding blooming tree, from ANNA fair which springs, Grow on blest birth with leaves and fruit, from branch to branch in kings."

This palm tree was actually a fancy salt shaker made of gold, with a clock inside. It was admired by visitors and later described in detail when it was put up for sale.

The idea of Queen Anne as a "fruitful vine" or "olive tree" was also used in a speech in parliament after the Gunpowder Plot, a famous attempt to blow up the English Parliament.

Legacy and Family

William Fowler's nephew, William Drummond of Hawthornden, inherited many of his writings. These included a collection of seventy-two poems called The Tarantula of Love and Fowler's translation of the Triumphs of Petrarke. These are now kept at the University of Edinburgh library and the National Library of Scotland.

William Fowler had several children:

• A daughter who married James Ruch.
• A daughter who married Patrick Stirling.
• Ludovick Fowler, who owned land in Restalrig. He married Jean Cathcart in 1622.
• Anna Fowler. After her husband died, she lived in poverty in Cambridge in 1665 and wrote letters asking for help.

Works by William Fowler

• A True Reportarie of the Most Triumphant, and Royal Accomplishment of the Baptisme of the Most Excellent, Right High, and Mightie Prince, Frederik Henry, By the Grace of God, Prince of Scotland. Solemnized the 30 Day of August 1594, Robert Waldegrave, Edinburgh (1594)
• Henry Meikle, ed., The Works of William Fowler, 3 vols, vol. I 1914, vol. II 1936, vol. III 1940, Scottish Text Society, Edinburgh