Apostolic Protonotary; Prebend of the cathedral of Glasgow; Rector of Ashkirk (nominated by the king, admited by the Chapter of Glasgow on 7 June 1505), Provost of St. Mary of the Fields, Edinburgh; Director of Chancery to James V; first of the Ordinary Lords appointed on the spiritual side upon the creation of the College of Justice on May 25, 1532; one of the Royal Commissioners for the opening of Parliament in Aug. and Dec. 1534; Elected June 7, 1534, as one of the Lords of the Articles for the clergy; one of the commissioners of the tax granted to James V on his marriage.

Held charter of the lands of Boghead, in the parish of Newlands and sheriffdom of Peebles on Feb. 28, 1535.

According to the book “An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice from its institution in MDXXXII“ (By George Brunton, solicitor, Edinburgh, and David Haig, assistant librarian to the Faculty of Advocates. Published by Saunders & Benning, London, 1832), Richard Bothwell. LL.D., Rector of Eskirk (Old name for Ashkirk) was the second son of Richard Bothwell, Provost of Edingurgh in the time of James III and Elizabeth Somerville of Plean, in the county of Stirling, daughter of William Somerville. The book said he died in 1547.

The book said Francis. also appointed to the College on May 27, 1532, was the elder brother of Richard and the first son of Richard and Elizabeth, which is incorrect.