William Bowes

Sir William Bowes of Streatlam, (died 1611), was an English ambassador to Scotland, Deputy Warden of the West March, Treasurer of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and Member of Parliament for Westmorland. William was the eldest son of George Bowes of Streatlam and Dorothy Mallory and succeeded to his father's encumbered estates in 1580. He was elected Member of Parliament for Westmorland in 1593 In Scotland Bowes represented Elizabeth I at the court of James VI of Scotland. His uncle, Robert Bowes, had earlier held the position. In May 1597 William Bowes came to Edinburgh, and Sir George Home of Wedderburn and Sir John Carmichael brought him to meet James VI in the garden of Holyrood Palace. Robert Bowes introduced his nephew, and William Bowes gave his speech to the king at the end of garden alley. They were brought into the garden for a second audience by Sir William Stewart of Traquair and George Young, and after a discussion, Robert and William Bowes were escorted to the Council Chamber in the palace by Carmichael and Wedderburn. Sitting at the table were the Duke of Lennox, the Earl of Mar, Lord Home, Lord Seton, Lord Ochiltree, the President Alexander Seton, and other members of the council and border commissioners. They discussed the request from Queen Elizabeth that Sir Robert Ker and Sir Walter Scott be sent to London for their infringements of border custom. Bowes cited the delivery by Henry VII of Sir William Heron to Scotland for the murder of Robert Ker of Cessford (1511), and the more recent rendition of Carmichael for the Raid of Redeswire (1575). Uncle and nephew discussed this conference with the king on 26 May, and the cases of other fugitives including Bothwell and Brian O'Rourke.