or BIDALE, in our ancient customs, denotes the invitation of friends to drink ale at some poor man's house, who, in consideration hereof expects some contribution for his relief. This custom still obtains in the west of England, and is mentioned in some of our ancient statutes.

BIDDLE, John, one of the most eminent English writers among the Socinians, was born at Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire, and educated in the free-school of that place. Being a hopeful youth, he was taken notice of; particularly by Lord George Berkeley, who allowed him an exhibition of ten pounds a-year. This caused him vigorously to apply ply himself to his studies; and he was, while at school, author of a translation of Virgil's Bucolics, and of the two first satires of Juvenal. He continued at school till he was 13 years of age. However, having manifested in that early period a singular piety and contempt of secular affairs, he was sent to the university of Oxford, and entered a student in Magdalen hall. In 1641, the magistrates of Gloucester chose him master of the free school of that city; and he was much esteemed: but falling into some opinions concerning the Trinity different from those commonly received, and expressing his thoughts with too much freedom, he suffered various persecutions and imprisonments in the time of the commonwealth. During one of these confinements, which lasted for several years, being reduced to great indigence, he was employed by Roger Daniel of London to correct the impression of the Greek Septuagint Bible, which that printer was about to publish with great accuracy. In 1651, the parliament published a general act of oblivion, which restored him to his full liberty. He was afterwards imprisoned on account of his tenets; and at last the Protector banished him for life to St Mary's castle in the isle of Scilly, and sent him thither in October 1655. Soon after, he was allowed 100 crowns a-year for subsistence. In 1658, he was set at full liberty. After the restoration of King Charles II. he was fined in 100l. and each of his hearers in 20l. to lie in prison till paid; which being put in execution, the want of the fresh air and exercise made him contract a disease, of which he died on the 22d of September 1662, in the 47th year of his age. His life was published in Latin in 1682, by Mr Farrington of the Inner Temple, who represents him as possessed of extraordinary piety, charity, and humility. He would not discourse of those points in which he differed from others, with those that did not appear religious according to their knowledge; and was a strict observer himself, and a severe exactor in others, of reverence in speaking of God and Christ. He had so happy a memory, that he retained word for word the whole New Testament, not only in English, but in Greek, as far as the fourth chapter of the Revelation of St John.