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,