Difference between revisions of "William Bedwell ca.1563-1632"

Latest revision as of 08:54, 15 June 2022

William BEDWELL ca. 1563-1632

Biographical Note

Born in Great Hallingbury, Essex, son of John Bedwell, yeoman. BA Trinity College, Cambridge 1585 and MA 1588. While at Cambridge, Bedwell was introduced to the Arabic language by a group of scholars at Pembroke College, among them Lancelot Andrewes, who would become one of his most important patrons. He was made rector of St Ethelburga's, Bishopsgate in 1601; was a translator of the King James Bible; and vicar of All Hallows, Tottenham from 1607. Bedwell was a mathematician and scholar of semitic languages, particularly remembered for dedicating his life to the study of Arabic, at a time when printed books and manuscripts in the language were scarce in Northern Europe. He also taught Arabic, his most notable students being Thomas van Erpe and Edward Pococke.

Books

In 1620 Thomas van Erpe listed Bedwell’s personal library as a place where Arabic manuscripts could be accessed in England, alongside the collections of Sir Robert Cotton and the Earl of Arundel. Before his death, Bedwell gave a manuscript Qur’an to Cambridge University Library at the behest of its librarian, his friend and fellow Arabist Abraham Wheelock. In his will Bedwell bequeathed his Arabic books and manuscripts to William Laud, and to Trinity College, Cambridge, although it is unclear whether the latter bequest was ever made. He also bequeathed his multi-volume Arabic dictionary to Cambridge University Library. A small number of valuable bibles were left to his sons-in-law, and other items from his library were sold from a shop in Little Britain (including astrological books that were purchased by William Lilly). Examples: Cambridge UL HH.5.1; Bodleian MS Laud Or. 172; BL C.112.f.11.

Bedwell's inscription, from the title page of H. Witekind, Conformatio horologiorum, 1576, British Library C.112.f.11

Bedwell's use of coloured ink and decorative ornaments, BL Sloane MS 1796

Characteristic Markings

Bedwell commonly inscribed his name in his printed books, although his manuscripts are usually only identifiable through marginalia in his hand. He occasionally wrote his name in Arabic characters. Some of his books are interleaved and heavily annotated. Many manuscripts composed by Bedwell himself are notable for their formal title pages and use of decorative ornaments and coloured inks.

Sources

Hamilton, Alastair. "Bedwell, William (bap. 1563, d. 1632), Arabist and mathematician." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Hamilton, A. William Bedwell the Arabist, 1563-1632, Leiden, 1985.
Oates, J. C. T., Cambridge University Library: a history, Cambridge, 1986, 213-7.
Will of William Bedwell, London Metropolitan Archives, DL/C/0362/001/154r.
Information from Samantha Brown.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 __NOTITLE__
+===[[name::William]] [[name::BEDWELL]] ca. [[date of birth::1563]]-[[date of death::1632]]===
-===[[name::William]] [[name::BEDWELL]] ca.[[date of birth::1563]]-[[date of death::1632]]===
 ====Biographical Note====
-Born in [[place of birth::Great Hallingbury, Essex]], son of [[family::John Bedwell]], [[occupation::yeoman]]. BA [[education::Trinity College, Cambridge]] 1584/5 and MA 1588. While at [[education::University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], Bedwell was introduced to the Arabic language by a group of scholars at [[organisations::Pembroke College, Cambridge|Pembroke College]], among them [[crossreference::Lancelot Andrewes 1555-1626|Lancelot Andrewes]], who would become one of his most important patrons. He was made [[occupation::rector]] of [[organisations::St Ethelburga, Bishopsgate Street]] in 1601; was a [[occupation::translator]] of the King James Bible; and [[occupation::vicar]] of [[organisations::All Hallows, Tottenham]] from 1607. Bedwell was a mathematician and scholar of semitic languages, particularly remembered for dedicating his life to the study of Arabic, at a time when printed books and manuscripts in the language were scarce in Northern Europe. He also [[occupation::teacher|taught]] Arabic, his most notable students being [[associates::Thomas Erpenius|Thomas van Erpe]] and [[crossreference::Edward Pococke 1604-1691|Edward Pococke]].
+Born in [[place of birth::Great Hallingbury, Essex]], son of [[family::John Bedwell]], yeoman. BA [[education::Trinity College, Cambridge]] 1585 and MA 1588. While at [[education::University of Cambridge|Cambridge]], Bedwell was introduced to the Arabic language by a group of scholars at [[organisations::Pembroke College, Cambridge|Pembroke College]], among them [[crossreference::Lancelot Andrewes 1555-1626|Lancelot Andrewes]], who would become one of his most important patrons. He was made [[occupation::rector]] of [[organisations::St Ethelburga's, Bishopsgate]] in 1601; was a [[occupation::translator]] of the King James Bible; and [[occupation::vicar]] of [[organisations::All Hallows, Tottenham]] from 1607. Bedwell was a mathematician and scholar of semitic languages, particularly remembered for dedicating his life to the study of Arabic, at a time when printed books and manuscripts in the language were scarce in Northern Europe. He also [[occupation::teacher|taught]] Arabic, his most notable students being [[associates::Thomas Erpenius|Thomas van Erpe]] and [[crossreference::Edward Pococke 1604-1691|Edward Pococke]].
 ====Books====
-In 1620 [[associates::Thomas van Erpe]] listed Bedwell’s personal library as a place where [[language::Arabic]] [[format::manuscript]]s could be accessed in England, alongside the collections of [[crossreference::Robert Cotton 1571-1631|Sir Robert Cotton]] and [[crossreference::Thomas Howard 1586-1646|the Earl of Arundel]]. Before his death, Bedwell gave a [[format::manuscript]] Qur’an to [[organisations::Cambridge University Library]] at the behest of its [[occupation::librarian]], his friend and fellow Arabist [[associates::Abraham Wheelock]]. In his will Bedwell [[bequest::bequeathed]] his Arabic books and manuscripts to [[crossreference::William Laud 1573-1645|William Laud]], and to [[beneficiary::Trinity College, Cambridge]], although it is unclear whether the latter bequest was ever made. He also [[bequest::bequeathed]] his multi-volume Arabic dictionary to [[organisations::Cambridge University Library]]. A small number of valuable bibles were [[bequest::bequeathed|left]] to his sons-in-law, and other items from his library were sold from a shop in [[location::Little Britain, London|Little Britain]]. Examples: Cambridge UL HH.5.1; Bodleian MS Laud Or. 172; BL C.112.f.11.
+In 1620 [[associates::Thomas van Erpe]] listed Bedwell’s personal library as a place where [[language::Arabic]] [[format::manuscript]]s could be accessed in England, alongside the collections of [[crossreference::Robert Cotton 1571-1631|Sir Robert Cotton]] and [[crossreference::Thomas Howard 1586-1646|the Earl of Arundel]]. Before his death, Bedwell gave a [[format::manuscript]] Qur’an to [[organisations::Cambridge University Library]] at the behest of its [[occupation::librarian]], his friend and fellow Arabist [[associates::Abraham Wheelock]]. In his will Bedwell [[bequest::bequeathed]] his Arabic books and manuscripts to [[crossreference::William Laud 1573-1645|William Laud]], and to [[beneficiary::Trinity College, Cambridge]], although it is unclear whether the latter bequest was ever made. He also [[bequest::bequeathed]] his multi-volume Arabic dictionary to [[organisations::Cambridge University Library]]. A small number of valuable bibles were [[bequest::bequeathed|left]] to his sons-in-law, and other items from his library were sold from a shop in [[location::Little Britain, London|Little Britain]] (including astrological books that were purchased by [[crossreference::William Lilly 1602-1681|William Lilly]]). Examples: Cambridge UL HH.5.1; Bodleian MS Laud Or. 172; BL C.112.f.11.
+[[file:BedwellInscription-BLC.112.f.11.JPG|thumb|395 px|Bedwell's inscription, from the title page of H. Witekind, ''Conformatio horologiorum'', 1576, British Library C.112.f.11]]
+[[file:Bedwell-BLSloaneMS1796.jpg|thumb|395 px|Bedwell's use of coloured ink and decorative ornaments, BL Sloane MS 1796]]
 ====Characteristic Markings====
-Bedwell commonly inscribed his name in his printed books, although his manuscripts are usually only identifiable through marginalia in his hand. He occasionally wrote his name in Arabic characters. Some of his books are interleaved and heavily annotated.
+Bedwell commonly inscribed his name in his printed books, although his manuscripts are usually only identifiable through marginalia in his hand. He occasionally wrote his name in Arabic characters. Some of his books are interleaved and heavily annotated. Many manuscripts composed by Bedwell himself are notable for their formal title pages and use of decorative ornaments and coloured inks.
 ====Sources====
-<div id=”sourcelist”>
+<div id="sourcelist">
 *Hamilton, Alastair. [https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/1942 "Bedwell, William (bap. 1563, d. 1632), Arabist and mathematician."] ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''.
 *Hamilton, A. ''William Bedwell the Arabist, 1563-1632'', Leiden, 1985.
+*Oates, J. C. T., ''Cambridge University Library: a history'', Cambridge, 1986, 213-7.
 *Will of William Bedwell, London Metropolitan Archives, DL/C/0362/001/154r.
+*Information from Samantha Brown.
 </div>
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Bedwell, William}}
+[[Category:Arabist]]
 [[Category:Clergy]]
 [[Category:Marginalia and Annotations]]
+[[Category:Libraries Bequeathed to Institutions]]
 [[Category:All Owners]]