me down and slept; I awaked, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me, round about." He drew up for the insurgents their Remonstrance and Statement of Grievances for presentation to the Lords Justices. After about two months his sufferings increased. He and his sons, with others, were removed on 18th December to Loughoughter castle, a little tower in the midst of a lake, and his own house and library were spoiled by the insurgents. His biographer thus quaintly writes of the dispersion of his library: "And thus what enemies left friends took away … the Bishop's books went every way but the right; and certain of his sermons were preached in Dublin, and heard there by some of Bishop Bedell's near relations, that had formerly heard them from his own mouth." A month afterwards the family was permitted to retire to the house of a friend near by. But the aged Bishop never recovered from his hardships, which broke down a constitution already weakened by age, and he died of typhus, 7th February 1642, keeping up his hopeful, loving spirit to the end. His last words were: "Be of good cheer, be of good cheer; whether we live or die we are the Lord's." Unusual honours were paid to his remains by the Irish commanders. A large military force attended his funeral, and fired a volley over his grave, crying, according to some accounts, Requiescat in pace, ultimus Anglorum," while Father Farrely, a Catholic priest, was heard to exclaim: "O sit anima mea cum Bedello!" His writings exhibit him as a man of extraordinary sweetness and innocence of disposition and depth of character, far in advance of his time in many respects. Not considering the revenue of the Church as his own, and to prevent danger of scandal, he was careful to give to his two sons, who were clergymen, but small preferments of £80 and £60 a-piece. His appearance is thus described: "He was a tall and graceful person; there was something in his looks and carriage that discovered what was within, and created a veneration for him. He had an unaffected gravity in his deportment, and decent simplicity in his dress and apparel." 26 Having an objection, both on grounds of decency and health, to interments in churches, he was, at his own desire, buried in a corner of the churchyard of Kilmore, beside his son, and his wife, whose death in 1638 had been a terrible grief to him. His grave is still to be seen, shaded by a sycamore, said to have been planted by his own hands. The new cathedral church of Kilmore, consecrated in 1860, was, according to the inscription thereon, erected to his memory. 26 27 93
Bell, Robert, a prolific writer, was born in Cork in 1800, and was educated at Trinity College. In Dublin he wrote for magazines and newspapers, composed a couple of plays, and assisted in resuscitating the College Historical Society. Removing to London, he met with ready employment as a journalist, having a fluent pen and genial manners. "For more than thirty years, Mr. Bell continued to lead the life of a busy literary man, contributing to various periodicals, sometimes editing one, and diversifying his journalistic labours by writing a history or biography, a play or a novel. … None of his writings are likely to have more than an ephemeral existence, but they are favourable specimens of their class, and creditable to their author." Perhaps his best known works are his continuation of Southey's Lives of the British Admirals, and his Annotated Edition of the English Poets, in 29 volumes. He died 12th April 1867. 40
Bellamy, George Anne, an actress, born in Dublin, 23rd April 1731; illegitimate daughter of an Irish nobleman. The early part of her life was spent in a French convent. Having been renounced by her father, for keeping up an intimacy with her mother, she went on the stage at Covent Garden theatre, when but fourteen. After playing successfully in London, she removed to Dublin, where she was recognized by her father's sister, and introduced to good society. Though she attained to a high position in her profession, her extravagant and dissolute habits eventually reduced her to poverty, and she died in great distress at Edinburgh, 15th February 1788, aged 56. She had a fine expressive face, an animated manner, and a voice full of sweetness and eminently touching. Garrick describes her as "very beautiful, with her blue eyes, and very fair. … I often saw her splendid state sedan-chair, with superb silver-lace liveries, waiting for her at the door of Liffey-street Catholic chapel." 3 Her Memoirs—a deplorable account of an ill-regulated life, devoid of general interest or value—are believed to have been written from her notes by Alexander Bicknell. 3 29 40 286
Belling, Sir Richard, was born at Belinstown, County of Dublin, in 1613. Having been educated in Ireland, he entered at Lincoln's Inn, and studied law for some years. While there he wrote a sixth book to the Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney. He entered with enthusiasm into the War of 1641-52, and rapidly rose
