Elizabeth Bowes
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Bowes was an English follower of John Knox
, her son-in-law.
. In 1521 Elizabeth Aske was betrothed to Richard Bowes, youngest son of Sir Ralph, and the king granted to him special livery of half the lands of William Aske, which he was to receive on his marriage. Richard Bowes, like the rest of his family, was engaged in border
business, but seems to have lived chiefly at Aske, where his wife bore him five sons and ten daughters, among them George Bowes
and Robert Bowes
.
In 1548 Richard Bowes was made captain of Norham
. His wife and family followed him northwards and lived in Berwick
. Elizabeth, religious and much affected by the Protestant Reformation
, met John Knox, who was living at Berwick in 1549. Her husband's family pride was hurt by Knox's proposal to marry their daughter Marjory, and he refused his consent. Knox, however, who was about the same age as Elizabeth, contracted himself to Marjory; and in July 1553 they were married in spite of opposition. At this time Knox's fortunes were at a low ebb, and Queen Mary
had just ascended the throne. His letters to Elizabeth were intercepted by spies, and in January 1554 he left England.
In June 1556 Elizabeth and Marjory joined Knox at Geneva
, where two sons were born to the couple. In 1558 Richard Bowes died, and in 1559 Knox left Geneva for Scotland. He was soon followed by his wife, and Elizabeth after a short stay in England made her way to her son-in-law, who wrote for the queen's permission for her journey. In 1560 Marjory died, but her mother still stayed near Know, leaving her own family. She died in 1568, and after her death Knox gave an account of the relationship in the Advertisement to his Answer to a Letter of a Jesuit named Tyrie (1572), published a letter to Elizabeth, dealing with her troubled conscience.
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
, her son-in-law.
Life
She was the daughter of Roger Aske, of Aske, Yorkshire. Her father died when she was a child, and she and her sister Anne were coheiresses of their father and grandfather. Their wardship was sold in 1510 to Sir Ralph Bowes of Dalden, Streatlam, and South CowtonSouth Cowton
South Cowton is a village and Civil Parish based around an abandoned medieval village in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire in England....
. In 1521 Elizabeth Aske was betrothed to Richard Bowes, youngest son of Sir Ralph, and the king granted to him special livery of half the lands of William Aske, which he was to receive on his marriage. Richard Bowes, like the rest of his family, was engaged in border
Border Country
Border Country is a novel by Raymond Williams. The book was re-published in December 2005 as one of the first group of titles in the Library of Wales series, having been out of print for several years. Written in English, the novel was first published in 1960.It is set in rural South Wales, close...
business, but seems to have lived chiefly at Aske, where his wife bore him five sons and ten daughters, among them George Bowes
George Bowes (soldier)
Sir George Bowes was an English military commander.-Life:George Bowes was the son of Richard Bowes and Elizabeth Aske. 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...
and Robert Bowes
Robert Bowes (ambassador)
Robert Bowes was an English diplomat, stationed as permanent ambassador to Scotland from 1577 to 1583.-Life:The fifth son of Richard Bowes and Elizabeth Aske, he was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge. He served under his father in the defence of the borders...
.
In 1548 Richard Bowes was made captain of Norham
Norham
Norham is a village in Northumberland, England, just south of the River Tweed and the border with Scotland.It is the site of the 12th century Norham Castle, and was for many years the centre for the Norhamshire exclave of County Durham...
. His wife and family followed him northwards and lived in Berwick
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
. Elizabeth, religious and much affected by the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, met John Knox, who was living at Berwick in 1549. Her husband's family pride was hurt by Knox's proposal to marry their daughter Marjory, and he refused his consent. Knox, however, who was about the same age as Elizabeth, contracted himself to Marjory; and in July 1553 they were married in spite of opposition. At this time Knox's fortunes were at a low ebb, and Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
had just ascended the throne. His letters to Elizabeth were intercepted by spies, and in January 1554 he left England.
In June 1556 Elizabeth and Marjory joined Knox at Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, where two sons were born to the couple. In 1558 Richard Bowes died, and in 1559 Knox left Geneva for Scotland. He was soon followed by his wife, and Elizabeth after a short stay in England made her way to her son-in-law, who wrote for the queen's permission for her journey. In 1560 Marjory died, but her mother still stayed near Know, leaving her own family. She died in 1568, and after her death Knox gave an account of the relationship in the Advertisement to his Answer to a Letter of a Jesuit named Tyrie (1572), published a letter to Elizabeth, dealing with her troubled conscience.
Further reading
- Cathy Hartley, Susan Leckey (2003), A Historical Dictionary of British Women, article p. 60.