BRUNO, Giordano, was born at Nola, in the kingdom of Naples. About the year 1582 he began to call in question some of the tenets of the Romish church, which occasioned his retiring to Geneva; but after residing there for two years, his open aversion for Calvinism occasioned his expulsion from that city. Having staid some time at Lyons, Toulouse, and Paris, he came to London, and continued two years in the house of M. Castelnau, the French ambassador. He was well received by Queen Elizabeth and the court, numbering among his friends Sir Philip Sydney and Sir Fulk Greville. With these and some others Bruno had frequent meetings; but as they treated of subjects of a very delicate nature, which could not suit the taste or capacity of everybody, none but select persons were admitted. Bruno's Spacio della Bestia Trionfante was printed in 1584, and dedicated to Sir Philip Sydney. From England he went to Wittemberg, and thence to Prague, where he printed several tracts, in which he openly avowed atheistical principles. After visiting some other towns in Germany, he made a tour to Venice, where he was apprehended by order of the inquisition, sent to Rome, tried, and condemned; and having refused to retract, he was burnt at the stake, Feb. 1600.