BEDELL, William, English clergyman: b. Black Notley, Essex, 1570; d. 1642. He studied at Cambridge, became minister of Saint Ed mundsbury in Suffollc, and in 1604 went to Venice as chaplain to the Ambassador, Sir Henry Wotton. Here he remained for eight years and became intimately acquainted with the celebrated Fra Paolo Sarpi, who taught him Italian and was taught theology in return. While here Bedell translated the English prayer-book into Italian. On his return to England he resumed the duties of his curacy, but left it in 1615 for the living of Horing sheath. Here he rernained for 12 years, and quitted it to become provost of Trinity College, Dublin. He undertook several important re forms, and successfully accomplished them through the admirable manner in which he tempered firmness with prudence. In 1629 he was appointed to the united sees of Kilmore and Ardagh, but thinking the duties of one sufficient, he retained only Kilmore and insisted on resigning Ardagh. He next turned his at
tention to the Roman Catholics,_ and labored assiduously to convert them to Protestantism. He caused the prayer-book to be translated into Irish and read regularly every Sunday in the cathedral. The New Testament had already been translated, but Bedell had the honor of per fecting the boon by procuring the translation of the Old Testament. In 1641, on the break ing out of the rebellion, his house was for some time the only English one in the county of Cavan which remained uninjured; but at last he was so far involved in the common fate that he was carried off to the castle of Clough boughter, where he was imprisoned with many others, the only exception in his favor being a-at he was not put in irons. His works are few and of comparatively little importance. His biography was written by Bishop Burnet.