Son of Elizabeth Bowes, Robert Bowes was sheriff of the County Palatine of Durham in 1569 and MP for Carlisle in 1571. He was treasurer of Berwick 1575-97 and served as ambassador to Scotland 1577-83. The Borderers loved football and Bowes recalls a match where 'some quarrel happened betwixt Bothwell and the Master of Marishal upon a stroke given at football on Bothwell's leg by the Master, after that the Master had received a sore fall by Bothwell.'