Agnes Mowbray (d 1595)

Wife of Robert Crichton of Eliok, Lord Advocate

Agnes Mowbray was a member of the Mowbray family of Barnbougall which had close associations with Mary Queen of Scots. She was one of five children from her father's first marriage; there were at least another five from his second marriage to Elizabeth Kirkcaldy, sister of Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange who was involved in the murder of Cardinal Beaton. Her aunt, Elizabeth Mowbray, became the second wife of Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston, and stepmother of John Napier, the mathematician, who invented logarithms and the calculating device known as "Napier's Bones". Her elder brother, Robert, fought on the side of the Queen's Men in 1572, and two of her sisters, Barbara and Gelis, were Mary Queen of Scots' ladies-in-waiting during her imprisonment and walked in her funeral procession in 1587. Agnes became the second wife of Robert Crichton of Eliok, Lord Advocate, on 6 August 1572 and stepmother of James Crichton, 'The Admirable Crichton'. The Mowbrays of Barnbougall, most of whom remained Roman Catholic after the Reformation, continued to be involved in political events in Scotland until the end of the 16th century, after which time they and their lands more or less disappeared from the records.

Testament of Agnes Mowbray

National Records of Scotland, CC8/8/28

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