BATES,WiLmAm, D. D., an eminent Nonconformist divine, born in November 1625. He was admitted to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and removed thence to King's College in 1644. He was one of the commissioners at the conference in the Savoy, for reviewing the public liturgy, and was concerned in drawing up the exceptions to the Book of Common Prayer. Notwithstanding thishe was appointed chaplain to Charles IL soon after the Restoration, and became minister of St Dunstan's in the West ; but he was afterwards deprived of his benefice for nonconformity. Bates was of an amiable character, and enjoyed the friendship of the Lord-Keeper Bridgman, the Lord-Chancellor Finch, the earl of Nottingham, and Archbishop Tillotson. He published Select Lives of Illustrious and Pious Persons, in Latin ; and after his death all his works, except his Select Lives, were printed in one vol. fol. ; again in 1723 ; and in 4 vols. 8vo, in 1815. He died in July 1699, in the 74th year of his age.