George Bowes (soldier)

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For the commander in border warfare, see George Bowes (rebel).

George Bowes
Streatlam
BuriedBarnard Castle
Spouse(s)Dorothy Mallory
Jane Talbot
IssueSir William Bowes
six other children
FatherRichard Bowes
MotherElizabeth Aske

Sir George Bowes (1527 – 20 August 1580) was an English military commander.

Family

George Bowes was the third but eldest surviving son of Richard Bowes (d. 10 November 1558) and Elizabeth Aske.[1][2] He had four brothers, Ralph, Francis, Christopher and Robert Bowes, and seven sisters: Bridget, who married Thomas Hussey, esquire; Anne, who married Marmaduke Vincent, esquire; Muriel, who married John Jackson; Margery, who married the Scottish reformer John Knox; Elizabeth, who married George Bainbrigge; Margaret, who married firstly Thomas Middleton and secondly Ambrose Birkbeck; and Jane.[3]

Career

At the age of fourteen he was married to Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Mallory of

Studley Royal. He early went to the Scottish war, and in 1549 is mentioned as being in command of one hundred cavalry at Douglas. In 1558 he was made Marshal of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and William Ingleby of Ripley was made treasurer of Berwick. Ingleby was married to Anne Mallory.[4] By then a widower, Bowes strengthened his position by an alliance with the powerful house of Shrewsbury
, when he married Jane, daughter of Sir John Talbot of Albrighton.

His opinion was often asked by the government about border affairs. In April 1560 he was knighted at Berwick by the Duke of Norfolk, who noted that his landed income of 600 marks a year suited his new status.[5] Soon afterwards he resigned as Marshal of Berwick and retired to his house at Streatlam Castle. In 1568 he was employed to escort Mary, Queen of Scots, from Carlisle to Bolton Castle, a duty he carried out courteously; Mary in later years wrote to him as to a friend.

In 1569 the

Lord President of the North, who was stationed at York
.

The Earl of Sussex for some time did not believe that the rebellious earls would proceed to any open action. At length their proceedings were so threatening that Bowes on 12 November left Streatlam, and shut himself up in Barnard Castle, which belonged to the crown and of which he was steward, with forces levied for Queen Elizabeth and gentlemen of the neighbourhood. He wished to use this small force for the purpose of cutting off the rebels who were gathering at Brancepeth; but Sussex hesitated to give permission, and things were allowed to take their course. On 14 November the rebel Earls entered Durham, and advanced southwards for the purpose of releasing Queen Mary from her prison at Tutbury; but they did not agree internally, changed their plan suddenly, and retreated northwards. Bowes's house at Streatlam was destroyed, and Barnard Castle was besieged. Bowes held out for eleven days, but fearing treachery within he made a surrender on honourable terms, and marched out with four hundred men. He joined the Earl of Sussex and was appointed provost marshal of the army.

The royal army had marched northwards, and the rebels retreated and gradually dispersed. Elizabeth gave orders that severe punishment should be inflicted on the ringleaders. The executions were carried out by Bowes, as provost marshal, while the lists of those to be executed were drawn up Sussex, who commended Bowes to the queen. In 1572 he received some minor grants of forfeited lands, which appear to have been of small value. In 1571 he was elected M.P. for

county palatine of Durham
.

In 1579 he relieved his brother

Robert Bowes, who wished for a leave of absence from the post of marshal of Berwick-upon-Tweed. He was involved in acquiring a portrait of James VI painted at Stirling Castle.[6]
After staying at Berwick for nearly a year he begged to be relieved. Soon after his return to Streatlam he died, in 1580.

His heir was his eldest son by Dorothy Mallory, William Bowes. Another son George Bowes (d. 1606) was involved in prospecting for gold in Scotland.

Notes

  1. ^ Newman 2004.
  2. ^ Richardson II 2011, p. 447.
  3. ^ Richardson II 2011, pp. 447–8.
  4. ^ Mary Anne Everett Green, Calendar State Papers Domestic, Addenda (London, 1870), p. 467 nos. 64, 65.
  5. ^ Joseph Bain, Calendar of State Papers Scotland, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1898), p. 375.
  6. ^ Cuthbert Sharp, Memorials of the Rebellion of 1569 (London, 1840), p. 392: Patrick Fraser Tytler, History of Scotland, vol. 8 (Edinburgh, 1842), p. 418: Duncan Thomson, Painting in Scotland 1570-1650 (Edinburgh, 1975), p. 9.

References

  • McGladdery, C.A. (2004). "Bowes, Robert (d. 1597)".
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3059. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  • Newman, Christine M. (2004). "Bowes, Sir George (1527–1580)".
    doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/3050. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  • Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G. (ed.). Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. Vol. II (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City.
    ISBN 978-1449966386.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
Attribution
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