Sir Richard Bulstrode

Other Events and Attributes:

• Of: Bulstrode Park, Buckinghamshire, England
• Occupation: Lawyer Soldier and Diplomat

Notes:

Sir Richard Bulstrode
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A soldier, diplomatist, and author, born 1610; died 1711, was the second son of Edward Bulstrode by Margaret, daughter of Richard Ashley, chamberlain of the queen's household and member of the Inner Temple. He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and while at the university was the author of a poem on the birth of the Duke of York. At twenty-three years of age he entered the Inner Temple and in 1649, at his father's request and through his interest, was made a bencher. During the Civil War he was loyal to the king, serving in the Prince of Wales's regiment and holding at times the post of adjutant. He was later promoted to the rank of Adjutant-General of Horse, and still later to be Quartermaster-General. He was appointed to take charge of the funeral of Lord Strafford and became responsible for the expenses attending it; on being pressed by his creditors he fled to Bruges. He subsequently underwent a short term of imprisonment, which was terminated by the payment of the debt by Charles II. On his return he was appointed auditor of a Scotch regiment then serving in the Netherlands and in 1673 was appointed agent at the court of Bruges. He was temporarily recalled two years later, and on 1675 was knighted and again sent to Brussels, this time as resident, where he remained until the accession of James II when he was made envoy. When the revolution of 1688 compelled James to leave England, Bulstrode accompanied him to the court of Saint-Germain, where he remained until his death. Among his writings are: " Original Letters written to Earl of Arlinton, with an account of the Author's Life and Family " , " Life of James II " , " Memoirs and Reflections on the Reign and Government of Charles I and Charles II " and a large number of elegies and epigrams.
THOMAS GAFFNEY TAAFFEE
Transcribed by Joseph P. Thomas
From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright ? 1913 by the Encyclopedia Press, Inc
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The Dictionary of National Biography wrongly records Sir Richard's mother, Margaret, as the daughter of Richard Astley, chamberlain of the Queen's household and that Sir Richard was born in 1610. He himself wrote that he was born in the year 1617 - 7 years before James the first dyed. James I died on 27th March 1624. Add. MSS 3885 f129 1689
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Unlike his father and most other members of his family (several of whom were also lawyers and some members of Parliament) Richard sympathised with King Charles, joining the Royalist forces at the outbreak of the Civil War, but, in later life wrote:

" I was then very young and in a labyrinth, not knowing well which way to go, but at last I resolved to go to Whitehall [Palace] with some gentlemen of the Inner Temple, being then newly come thither from Cambridge, where I had been bred in Pembroke Hall. I was brought up to London by my father from Coventry, where we then dwelt. "

Richard was later to achieve distinction as a soldier, lawyer, diplomat and historian and to be knighted by Charles II for his services.
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Further reading:-
Richard Bulstrode: Memoirs and Reflections upon the Reign and Government of King Charles I and King Charles II, containing an account of several remarkable facts not mentioned by other historians of those times wherein the character of the Royal Martyr and of Charles II are vindicated from 'fanatical aspersions.1721
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Richard took part in the siege of Warwick Castle from 7th to 23rd August 1642, on which he recorded: Our endeavours for taking it were to little purpose for we only had two small pieces of cannon which were brought from Compton House, belonging to the Earl of Northampton, and those were drawn to the top of the church steeple and were discharged at the castle, to which they could do no hurt, but only frightened them within the castle, who shot into the street, and killed several of our men. This was the first Action I was ever in and, being upon an unruly Horse, he ran away with me amongst the Enemy, while we pursued them to the Bridge, in which Hurly I lost my Hat.

Richard, who served in the Prince of Wales Regiment of Horse, wrote: I was engaged in all the wars with King Charles the first and received a terrible wound from a pole axe in my head at Edge Hill which was the first great battle between the King and his rebellious subjects which was fought on 23rd October 1642.
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Richard married Marie Stamford about 1642. Marie was born about 1620; died before 1648. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Richard married Joyce Dyneley on 21 Feb 1648 in Saint Martin's In The Fields, Westminster, London, England. Joyce (daughter of Edward Dyneley) was born in 1627 in Charlton, Worcestershire, England; died on 29 Apr 1677. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Edward married Mary Gardner about 1677. Mary (daughter of Samuel Gardner) was born about 1656 in Evesham, Worcestershire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Of: The Inner Temple, London, England
• Occupation: Lawyer

Whitlocke married Elizabeth Dyneley in 1675 in London, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Samuel Dyneley) was born in 1654 in Charlton, Worcestershire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 21 Nov 1654, Saint Clement Danes, Westminster, London, England

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Dingly Bulstrode
• Baptism: 12 Mar 1675, Saint Bride's, Fleet Street, London, England