made an entry in the Registers of the Company of nineteen books which had formerly belonged to R. Meighen. Twelve of these were plays. Later, however, they appear to have dealt principally in law books. In 1650 they took Thomas Collins, q.v., as third partner. In 1654 Mercy Meighen died, and G. Bedell is found in partnership with R. Marriot, T. Garthwayte, and J. Crooke, but eventually he and T. Collins settled down together, and a list of 86 books, arranged under subjects, published by them in 1656 occurs at the end of T. Goffe's Three excellent Tragedies, Gabriell Bedell died on February 27th, 16678 "by taking a cup of poyson, as is reported." [Smyth's Obituary, p. 77; W. W. Greg, List of English Plays, p. 42.]
BEE (CORNELIUS), bookseller in London; Little Britain, 1636-712. Was the son of Thomas Bee, citizen and haberdasher, of London, whose will was proved May 28th, 1621. [P.C.C. 33 Dale.] He appears to have been a man of some capital, and joined Laurence Sadler, q.v., in 1637 in the publication of the Atlas Major. [Domestic State Papers, Charles I, vol. 371, 95.] He is frequently mentioned in the domestic correspondence of the Commonwealth period, and Doctor Worthington in his diary notes [vol. i., p. 185] that the library of John Hales was purchased by Cornelius Bee for £700. His great publication was the Critici Sacri in 9 vols, folio, 1660. He had thought of issuing a tenth volume, and he greatly resented the publication of Matthew Poole's Synopsis of the critical labours of biblical commentators. Lawsuits resulted, the result being given in favour of Poole. Bee thereupon abandoned his projected tenth volume. [Domestic State Papers, Charles II, vol. 244, 27; Case betwixt Mr. Poole and Mr, C. Bee (1677?). Vindication of Mr. Poole's design (1677?)]. Cornelius Bee lost between £6,000 and £10,000 by the great fire. He married a sister of Lancelot Toppyn, bookseller, q.v., and his wife died in 1654. One of his daughters married James Fletcher or Flesher, son of Miles Fletcher or Flesher, and another married Nathaniel Hooke, bookseller, q.v. Cornelius Bee died on January 2nd, 16712, and was buried at Great St. Bartholomew. [Smyth, Obituary, p. 93.]
BEESLEY (WILLIAM), (?) bookseller in London; Charles Street, Covent Garden, near the Peates (?) 1641. His name occurs on the imprint to a pamphlet entitled Beaten Oyle for the lamps of the Sanctuarie. [E. 163 (14).]
