Dr WILLIAM, a learned prelate, born in Essex in 1570. He went with Sir Henry Wotton the English ambassador to the republic of Venice, as his chaplain, in 1604; and continuing eight years in that city, contracted an intimate acquaintance with the famous Father Paul, of whom he learned Italian so well as to translate the English Common Prayer Book into that language: in return he drew up an English grammar for Father Paul, who declared he had learned more from him in all parts of divinity than from any one beside. He was accordingly much concerned when Bedell left Venice; and at his departure presented him with his picture, the MSS. of his History of the Council of Trent, his History of the Interdict and Inquisition, tion, with other literary donations. In 1629, he obtained the bishopric of Kilmore and Ardagh in Ireland; and finding these dioceses in great disorder, applied himself vigorously to reform the abuses there. He was no persecutor of Papists, but laboured with great success to convert the better sort of the Popish clergy: he procured an Irish translation of the Common Prayer Book, which he caused to be read in his cathedral every Sunday; and the New Testament having been translated by Archbishop Daniel, he procured one of the Old Testament; which he having been prevented from printing himself, was afterwards executed at the expence of the great Mr Robert Boyle. He published, in 1624, a controversial book against the Roman Catholics, which he dedicated to Charles prince of Wales; and assisted the archbishop of Spalatro in finishing his famous work De Republica Ecclesiastica.—When the bloody rebellion broke out in Ireland in Oct. 1641, the bishop at first did not feel the violence of its effects; for the very rebels had conceived a great veneration for him, and they declared he should be the last Englishman they would drive out of Ireland. His was the only house in the county of Cavan that was inviolated, and it was filled with the people who fled to him for shelter. About the middle of December, however, the rebels, pursuant to orders received from their council of state at Kilkenny, required him to dismiss the people that were with him; which he refused to do, declaring he would share the same fate with the rest. Upon this, they seized him, his two sons, and Mr Clogy who had married his daughter-in-law, and carried them prisoners to the castle of Cloughboughter, surrounded by a deep water, where they put them all, except the bishop, in irons; after some time, however, this part of their severity was abated. After being confined for about three weeks, the bishop and his two sons, and Mr Clogy, were exchanged for some of the principal rebels: but the bishop died soon after, on the 7th of February 1642, his death being chiefly occasioned by his late imprisonment, and the weight of sorrows which lay upon his mind. The Irish did him unusual honours at his burial; for the chief of the rebels gathered their forces together, and with them accompanied his body to the church-yard.