BEDELL, WILLIAM (1571-1642). A prelate of the English Church, born at Black Notley, Essex. He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and after his ordination, in 1602, officiated as a clergyman at Bury Saint Edmunds. In 1607 he accompanied Sir Henry Wotton as his chaplain to Venice. There he resided about four years, deeply engaged in study, and honored by the friendship of many distinguished men, in par ticular of Pra Paolo Sarpi, then engaged in the composition of his celebrated History of the Counoil of Trent. While residing here, he trans lated the English Common Prayer Book into Ital ian, which was highly appreciated by many of the Venetian clergy. On his return home he re sumed his pastoral duties at Bury, where he lived for some time in such retirement that when his friend Diodati came to England, he inquired in vain for the admirable Bedell, whose merits were so well known in Venice. He had given up hopes of finding him, when one day he encountered him in the streets of London. In 1616 Bedell was presented to the living of Horningsheath, a neigh boring parish to Bury. His retired life and his Calvinistic theology long hindered the recogni tion of his merits. At length, in 1627, he was unanimously elected provost of Trinity College, Dublin, to the fame of his learning and piety had extended. He refused to undertake the
charge till positively commanded by the King. At the end of two years he was promoted to the united bishoprics of Kilmore and Ardagh. the latter of which he resigned in 1633. While in this diocese he removed his lay chancellor, and took upon himself the ancient episcopal jurisdic tion of hearing and deciding causes. llis wisdom, firmness, and charity forced even his enemies to revere him, and when the rebellion of 1041 broke out his was the only English house in the county of Cavan that was spared. Refusing to dismiss his flock, he was imprisoned for a time, and on being released ministered at a private house till his death, at Drumlo•, February 7, 1642. The Old Testament was translated into Irish under his direction, and besides some other works, he translated the last two books of Era Paolo's history. His biography was written by his son William, and this was afterwards edited by T. W. Jones (London, 1S72). Consult also Burnet, Life of Bishop Bedell (London, I(1S5).