Sir Robert Bell (I26359)
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Personal Facts and Details
  Events of close relatives | |
| Birth | 1539 Beaupre Hall, Outwell, Norfolk, Eng |
| Marriage | 15 October 1559 (Age 20) Baroness Dorothy Beaupre - [View Family (F10053)]
Norfolk, England |
| Death | 22 July 1577 (Age 38) Leominster, Herefordshire, Eng |
| Universal Identifier | F103E05B9FFC584D808B8DE939126E731C9A |
| Last Change | 6 December 2006 - 14:18:43 Last changed by: dcoplien |
Notes
 Note |
Chief Baron of the Exchequer Sir Robert Bell (Unknown — 1577) of Beaupre Hall, Norfolk, was a Speaker of the House of Commons (1572-1576), during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. "Knighted 1577, Of Counsel King's Lynn 1560, Recorder from 1561, Bencher Middle Temple 1565, Autumn Reader 1565, Lent Reader 1571", HoP "Of Counsel Great Yarmouth from 11 Feb. 1562-3",DNB "Justice of the Peace of the Quorum, Norfolk from 1564, Commissioner of Grain 1576, Musters by 1576, Serjeant-at-Law 1577, 24 January 1577, Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer" Education and religion Robert Bell of the Middle Temple, 23 may have been privately tutored; possibly by Sir John Cheke, who was a friend and kinsman of William Cecil (Lord Burghley). William Cecil, Queen Elizabeth's I, 'cheif advisor', was "the probable 'behind the scenes architect of the '1566 succession question",9 (of which, Bell was chosen to represent the House of Commons), and who had recommended Bell for Speaker in 1572. Moreover, Sir John Cheke was a friend, and kinsman, of a fellow Exchequer colleague of Robert Bell's, Peter Osbourne,10 whose daughter Anne, married Bell's first son and heir, Edmonde. In 1566, Robert Bell was lampooned by Thomas Norton as "Bell the Orator" together with others who served on the succession committee. (most of those featured in this publication were Puritans, for instance Sir Christopher Yelverton who is styled "Yelverton the poet"). Furthermore, scholars have surmised that Robert Bell may have attended Cambridge University (Protestant leanings), 3, 11 which can be supported by his political alignments during the 1566, Parliamentry Session, in particular, "Mr. Bell's complices"...(Richard Kingsmill and Robert Monson)(3) HoP with whom the Queen referred, during the succession question debate. However, Bell's marriage to the coheiress Dorthie Beaupre in 1559, unfolds the possibility that he may have also possessed conservative temperaments (Catholic), which may indicate that he attended Oxford University. This is further supported by the 1567, will of Edmonde Beaupre, where it can be found within the text, that Robert Bell shares the company of a number of well documented conservatives, including Sir William Cordell, Speaker of the House of Commons and Sir Henry Bedingfield of Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk, 17 who had been entrusted with the custody of Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth I) by Queen Mary I; and whose father, Sir Edmund Bedingfield, had been employed in the same capacity, with the care of Katherine of Aragon, following the proceeding's of 1529, from the divorce from King Henry VIII. Bell seems to have managed admittance to the Middle Temple, where he apparently excelled, being qualified to sit as a Bencher, and later, being elevated to the honour of both Lent and Autumn Reader. During the period that he attended the Middle Temple, the religious denomination of the pupils and Masters was primarily Catholic, with emerging factions of Protestants, balancing the Elizabethan membership. The register that would have recorded where he had been formerly educated or where he attended church, and who his parents were, and so on, has long been lost. Of course, notwithstanding the above, Bell may have been one of a number of individulas that were significantly impacted, as a result of the Henrician, Edwardian, and Marian Church Reformations. No doubt, the tempering of one's soul during this period, surely would have conditioned and or allowed for the refinements of character, necessary, for one to acquire a taste for a latitudinarian posture, with respect to the many religious issues, that at the present time, were, proving quite controversial, and, very dangerous; particularly, in consideration of the many unfortunate, if not, senseless, deaths that both faiths suffered; (Deaths that were inflicted by those "Holy and True" representatives of God and faith (both Catholic and Protestant), who, together, curiously, seemed to embrace the same, "true"ly misleading 'spirit'). The experience of living through this period, may have provided the catalyst, that promoted Bell's ability to unite the House collectively, on a solid foundation. Furthermore, he seems to have been successful with resolving differences, between fellow MP's during the various committee's, that he was active in; for instance (the Prayer Book and Church Attendance) A taste of Robert Bell's sentiments, can be clearly derived, by examining his description of the infamous reign of Queen Mary I, ("Mr Bell's second 'oration' 8 May, 1572"): " The Queen's 'loving subjects' desired her preservation 'more than the chased deer desired the soil for his refreshing'; at the time of her accession the country was subject to ignorant hypocracy and unsound doctrine', but God inclined her heart 'to be a defence to his afflicted church throughout all Europe.' At any rate, by April 1577, Bell was nominated to be a member of a committee for a special visitation of Oxford University, together with Sir Christopher Wray, Edwin Sandys then bishop of London and John Piers then bishop of Rochester and four others. (State Papers, Domestic, Elizabeth, p. 543) In 1577, during the new years promotions, Queen Elizabeth I (the realms fount of honour) conferred a knighthood, to Sir Robert Bell, made him her Serjeant-at-Law, and appointed him Lord Chief Baron of her Exchequer;3 a post that he retained during the period that Sir Francis Drake wrote the government, claiming his bounty to build his ships in Aldeburgh, together with the clandestine arrangements he secured from his investors, for his 1577, voyage to 'circumnavigate' the globe. Sir Robert Bell's contemporaries respected his contributions, notably, the historian, William Camden who considered him a 'lawyer of great renowne,' and a "Sage and grave man, famous for his knowledge in the law." Modern scholars, such as P.W. Hasler, observed that Bell was a "poacher turned game keeper" when he changed the manner that he conducted himself; by repenting from his old way's, thereby affording himself an opportunity to sow the seeds of inner growth, that he later reaped, in his service, for the glory of the common good. Unfortunately, Bell's success was short lived. While presiding as judge at the Oxford assizes, (afterward deemed the Black Assizes), he was exposed to prisoners of foul condition during the trial of a book seller who slandered the Queen. This stench is thought to have caused a pestilent vapor and Bell (along with an est. 300 others) caught gaol fever. (Camden, Annals, bk. 2.376) Bele on 27 July 1577, spent his last hours drafting a codicil to his will, where he named his 'Loving wife Dorthie sole executor' and directed the selling of certain property for payment of debts, with an emphasis, on the future maintenance of his eight children: (most were very young) ..."and the money thereof cominge to be ymployed towardes the payment of my Debtes and bringinge upp of my children at the order and discreation of my saide Executrix " His will was [Proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury at London 4 September 1577 by Peter Johnson notary public, proxy for Dorothy, relict and executrix.] |
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Family with Baroness Dorothy Beaupre - [View Family (F10053)] |
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