BIDDLE, .Torts, the founder of English Unitarianism, wash, in 1615, at Wotton-under-: Edge, in Gloucestershire, and in 1632 entered Magdalen Oxford, where he took. his degree of M.A. In 1641, he was elected master of the free school in the town of. Gloucester, the duties of which function he discharged with such zeal, that the character, of the institution was greatly unproved; but having embraced certain opinions—which. he printed for private circulation—in regard to the personality of the Holy Spirit, at variance with those held by tire majority of Christians,. he was thrown into jail, Dec..; 1645. Being at length summoned before the parliament at Westminster, on account of his heresy, he was formally tried. and condemned to imprisonment for 5 years. The' famous Westminster assembly of divines undertook to "settle" B.'s ease, but unfortu nately their arguments-ris is usual in disputation—had only the effect of strengthening his previous convictions. In 1648, while still in prison, he published a Confession if' concerning the Holy Trinity, etc., which was:followed by another tract containing. line opinions of the church fathers on the same tpfestion. In consequence of this attempt; to combst rite orthodox doctrine, the Westminster divines called .upon tine parliament to
pass an act declaring the denial of the Trinity,a crime punishable by death. The army, however,strange to say, proved on this occasion less cruel than the church, for it manifested such strong opposition that the net remained a dead-letter. Under the liberal rule of Cromwell, B. was released. Ile now commenced to gather a congregation of those whom; he had converted to his opinions—namely, that there was but one person, as there was' out one nature, in the Godhead. The members were first called Bidellians, then Socin inns, and finally assumed for themselves the name of Unitarians. Twice, however, after this, during the commonwealth. B. suffered severely for his creed, and even tine iron-' willed protector himself, in order to save his life, was compelled to banish hint to one of the Scilly isles. Three years of imprisonment having elapsed, he was permitted to return, and continued to preach in London till the death of Cromwell. and also after the restoration. until June. 1662. when he was again apprehended and fined in £100, and being unable to pay, was committed to jail, where hedied in Sept. of the same year. His Personal character was highly esteemed by those who knew him.