Richard Bellings, (knight, secretary)

Sir Richard Bellings (sometimes spelt Bealings) (1622- 30th October 1716), was the Knight secretary to Catherine of Braganza [ [http://www.moyak.com/researcher/resume/papers/catholic.html The Role of Anti-Catholicism in England in the 1670s ] ]

In 1662 Charles II sent Sir Richard Bellings to Rome to arrange the terms of England’s conversion to Romanism. [ [http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=h&p=c&a=b&ID=26 Charles II the 'Merry Monarch' [Biography ] ] ,

On June 1, 1670, he was one of the signers of the Secret Treaty of Dover for England. Other signers were Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington and Sir Thomas Clifford and Henry Arundell, 3rd Baron Arundell of Wardour and Jean-Baptiste Colbert for France. That secret treaty engaged Charles II to declare himself a Roman Catholic, for which Louis XIV was to pay him two millions of francs, and, in the event of anticipated disturbances in England

It was the signing of this treaty which effectively created an alliance with England and France and against Holland, in March 1672. This was the second Dutch War of the reign of Charles the Second.

Family

*His father was Richard Bellings (1613–1677) was a lawyer and political figure in 17th century Ireland.
*His mother was Margaret Butler (daughter of Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgaret)

He married in 1671 to Francis Arundell who was dresser of Queen catherine and keeper of H.M. sweet coffer. She was daughter of Sir John Arundell of Lanherne. Their son took the name Richard Bellings-Arundell in accordance with his Grandfather's will.

Children

#Richard Bellings-Arundell married Anne Gage, dau. of Joseph Gage of Sherborne Castle
#Helen, married Sir John Hales, 4th Baronet [ [http://www.accessgenealogy.com/baronets/hales.htm Debrett's Baronetage of England ~1828 ] ]

He was buried at St Columb Major in Cornwall. The Coat of Arms displayed on his headstone is described as "A cross pattée fitchée (Bealing) on escutheon of pretence (Arundell); inpaling Arundell. Crest: Over esquires's helmet, on a wreath a demi lion rampant, holding between its paws a cross pattée fitchée."

External links

* [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&docId=59581531 Letters Addressed from London to Sir Joseph Williamson While Plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cologne in the Years 1673 and 1674 Vol. 1 ] at www.questia.com

References

"Letters Addressed from London to Sir Joseph Williamson While Plenipotentiary at the Congress of Cologne in the Years 1673 and 1674". Volume: 1. edited by, Sir Joseph Williamson - (1874).