Dr William, a learned prelate, born in Essex in 1570. He accompanied Sir Henry Wotton, the English ambassador to Venice, in 1604, and spent eight years in that city, where he contracted an intimate acquaintance with the celebrated Father Paul. Of him Bedell learned enough of Italian to be able to translate the English Common Prayer Book into that language; and in return he drew up an English grammar for Father Paul, who declared that he had learned more from Bedell in all parts of divinity than from any other person. In 1629, he obtained the bishopric of Kilmore and Ardagh in Ireland, and finding these dioceses in very great disorder, applied himself vigorously to the reform of abuses. 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 caused a version of the Old Testament to be made, which was afterwards printed at the expense of the Honourable Robert Boyle. In 1624, he published a controversial book against the Roman Catholics; and he assisted the archbishop of Spalatro in finishing his famous work De Republica Ecclesiastica. When the rebellion broke out in Ireland in October 1641, the bishop's was the only house in the county of Cavan that remained inviolate. 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 who had fled to him for protection; but he peremptorily refused to do so. Upon this the bishop and his family were carried prisoners to the castle of Cloughboughter; but after a confinement of about three weeks, the prisoners were exchanged for some of the principal rebels. The bishop, however, died soon after, Feb. 7, 1642, and the chiefs of the rebels honoured his memory by accompanying his remains to the tomb.