Richard Bellings, whose opposition to Rinuccini had been no less strenuous than Walsh's, left Ireland with Ormonde in 1650. He had married a Butler and was always on good terms with the head of that family. At Paris he was engaged in controversy with Bishop French, John Ponce, and others of the ultramontane party who did not forgive his hostility to the nuncio. His knowledge of papal diplomacy and influence among the Irish refugees abroad no doubt made him useful to Hyde, who befriended him after the Restoration, when he was at first in great difficulties. Early in 1662 Clarendon asked the King if he intended to 'allow Dick Bellings anything to live upon, or that he shift as he can.' Fox was thereupon ordered to pay him 400_l._ a year, and he ultimately got back all or most of his Irish property, though some difficulties were made about the merits of one who had been secretary to the council of rebels. In 1663 he was sent to Rome to solicit a cardinal's hat for Aubigny, and more privately to take what steps were possible to bring about an understanding between Alexander VII. and the statutory head of the Church of England. He failed in both objects but without forfeiting the confidence of Ormonde and Clarendon, neither of whom perhaps were fully in the secret. Evelyn met him at Cornbury in 1664, and both before and after his Italian journey he tried to help the Lord Lieutenant in his dealings with the Irish Roman Catholics.[49] [Sidenote: His appeal to Ormonde.] In the summer of 1661, when the Royal declaration was known but before the meeting of the Irish Parliament which was to make it law, Bellings wrote from Dublin to Ormonde, who was still in London and not yet Lord Lieutenant. The letter is essentially a plea for the Anglo-Irish who never sought foreign help as long as there was a settled government. There is not a word about the Ulster settlement, and the conduct of Borlase and Parsons 'who favoured the party opposing his Majesty,' is represented as the beginning of troubles. The new settlers, or most of them, were 'the scum of England,' and the result of their supremacy would be to people Ireland with 'a generation of mechanic bagmen who are strangers to all principles of religion and loyalty.' Ormonde's connections and natural allies would be ousted and in time his own family would suffer. 'The King's faithful subjects, those who have followed his fortune abroad, all the ancient families in Ireland and among them your Grace's kindred, your allies and friends will be made slaves.' Ormonde had saved some and might save more, and he was reminded that the eyes of Europe were upon him.[50] [Sidenote: Peter Walsh appointed procurator.]