Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 04.djvu/148

  lord chancellor and earl of Southampton), some of the friars were released, but Belchiam was excepted. He died in Newgate of starvation on 3 Aug. 1537. A copy of his sermon, which was found in the prison after his death, was brought to Henry VIII, who was at first affected by it, but afterwards had it burnt. Another copy was preserved by the friars, and Thomas Bourchier, writing in 1583, expresses a hope that it may be published, which, as far as we know, was never done.



BELCHIER, DAUBRIDGCOURT, or DAWBRIDGE-COURT (1580?–1621), dramatist, the son of William Belchier, Esq., of Gillesborough, in Northamptonshire, was admitted, in company with his brother John, a fellow-commoner of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, on 2 March 1597. He afterwards removed to Christ Church, where, on 9 Feb. 1600, he took the degree of B.A. A few years later he settled in the Low Countries, and in 1617, when he was residing in Utrecht, he translated from the Dutch – but it cannot now be traced from what original – a piece which he published in London in 1618, 'Hans Beer Pot, his Invisible Comedy of See me and See me not,' which was stated to have been 'acted in the Low Countries by an honest company of Health Drinkers,' This play was anonymous, and was attributed to by Phillips and Winstanley. The author admits that it is neither tragedy nor comedy, but a plain conference of three persons, divided into three acts. Belchier was the author of various other poems and translations, but none of them appear to have been printed. He presented to Corpus Christi College a silver cup with the family arms upon it, 'Paly of 6 or, and gul, a chief vaire.' He died at Utrecht in 1621.



BELCHIER, JOHN (1706–1785), surgeon, was born at Kingston, Surrey, and educated at Eton. On leaving school he was apprenticed to Cheselden, head surgeon at St. Thomas's Hospital. By perseverance Belchier became eminent in his profession, and in 1736 he was appointed surgeon to Guy's Hospital. In 1732 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society, and his name appears on the list of the council from 1769 to 1772. He contributed some papers to the society's 'Philosophical Transactions.' On Belchier's retirement from the office of surgeon of Guy's Hospital he was elected one of its governors, and also a governor of St. Thomas's Hospital. He had an exaggerated reverence for the name of Guy, saying 'that no other man would have sacrificed 150,000l. for the benefit of his fellow creatures.' In the 'Gentleman's Magazine' for 1743 is the following story: 'One Stephen Wright, who, as a patient, came to Mr. Belchier, a surgeon, in Sun Court, being alone with him in the room clapt a pistol to his breast, demanding his money. Mr. Belchier offered him two guineas, which he refused; but, accepting of six guineas and a gold watch, as he was putting them in his pocket Mr. Belchier took the opportunity to seize upon him, and, after a struggle, secured him.' Belchier died suddenly in Sun Court, Threadneedle Street, and was buried in the founder's vault in the chapel attached to Guy's Hospital.



BELER, ROGER DE (d. 1326), judge, was son of William Beler, and grandson of Roger Beler, sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1256. His mother's name was Amicia. That the family was settled in Leicestershire we know from a license obtained by the judge in 1316 to grant a lay fee in Kirkby-by-Melton, on the Wrethek in that county, to the warden and chaplains of St. Peter, on condition of their performing religious services for the benefit of the souls of himself and his wife Alicia, his father and mother, and ancestry generally. In the civil dissensions of the period, in which Piers Gaveston lost his life, Beler was of the Earl of Lancaster's party, and in October 1318 was included in the amnesty then granted to the earl and his adherents. Shortly afterwards he received a grant of land in Leicestershire as the reward of undefined 'laudable services' rendered by him to the king. In the same year the offices of bailiff and steward of Stapleford, in Leicestershire, of which apparently he was already tenant, were entailed upon him. In this year he was one of a commission for the trial of sheriffs and other officers accused of extortion in the counties of Buckingham, Bedford, and Northampton. In 1322 he was created baron of the exchequer in the room of John de Foxle, and placed on a special commission to try