(Dr John)**, a celebrated musician and composer, was born in Somersetshire about the year 1563, and, as it is said, was of the Somersett family. He was educated under Blitheman. In 1586, he was admitted at Oxford to the degree of bachelor of music, having practised in that faculty 14 years; and in 1592, was created doctor in the university of Cambridge. In 1591, he was appointed organist of the queen's chapel, in the room of his master, Blitheman.

Bull was the first Gresham professor of music, and was appointed to that station upon the special recommendation of queen Elizabeth. However skilful he might be in his profession, it seems he was not able to read his lectures in Latin; and therefore, by a special provision in the ordinances respecting the Gresham professors, made anno 1597, it is declared, that because Dr Bull is recommended to the place of music-professor by the queen's most excellent majesty, being not able to speak Latin, his lectures are permitted to be altogether English, so long as he shall continue music-professor there.

In the year 1601, he went abroad for the recovery of his health, which at that time was declining; and during his absence was permitted to substitute as his deputy, a son of William Bird, named Thomas. He travelled incognito into France and Germany; and Wood takes occasion to relate a story of him while abroad, which the reader shall have in his own words,

"Dr Bull hearing of a famous musician belonging to a cathedral in St Omer's, he applied himself, as a novice, to him, to learn something of his faculty, and to see and admire his works. This musician, after some discourse had passed between them, conducted Bull to a vestry or music-school joining to the cathedral, and shewed him a lesson or song of 40 parts; and then made a vaunting challenge to any person in the world to add one part more to them, supposing it to be so complete and full, that it was impossible for any mortal man to correct or add to it. Bull thereupon, desiring the use of pen, ink, and ruled paper, such as we call musical paper, prayed the musician to lock him up in the said school for two or three hours; which being done, not without great disdain by the musician, Bull, in that time or less, added 40 more parts to the said lesson or song. The musician thereupon being called in, he viewed it, tried it, and retired it; at length he burst out into a great ecstasy, and swore by the great God, that he that added these 40 parts must either be the devil or Dr Bull. Whereupon Bull making himself known, the musician fell down and adored him. Afterwards continuing there and in those parts for a time, he became so much admired, that he was courted to accept of any place of preferment suitable to his profession, either within the dominions of the emperor, the king of France, or Spain; but the tidings of these transactions coming to the English court, queen Elizabeth commanded him home."

Faffi, anno 1586.

Dr Ward, who has given the life of Dr Bull, in his lives of the Gresham professors, relates, that upon the decease of queen Elizabeth he became chief organist to king James, and had the honour of entertaining his majesty and prince Henry at Merchant Taylor's hall with his performance on the organ. The same author proceeds to relate, that in 1613, Bull quitted England, and went to reside in the Netherlands, where he was admitted into the service of the archduke. He suggests, as the reason for Bull's retirement, that the science began to sink in the reign of king James; which he infers from that want of court-patronage, which, it seems, induced the musicians of that day to dedicate their works to one another. But surely Bull had none of these reasons to complain of being slighted that others had. He was in the service of the chapel, and at the head of the prince's musicians; and in the year 1604 his salary for the chapel-duty had been augmented. The circumstances of his departure from England may be collected from the following entry now to be seen in the cheque book: "1613, John Bull doctor of music went beyond seas without licence, and was admitted into the archduke's service, and entered into paie there about Mich. and Peter Hopkins a rate from Paul's was sworn into his place the 27th of December following. His wages from Mich. unto the day of the swearing of the said Peter Hopkins was dispaid of by the dean of his majesty's chapel." Wood says, that Dr Bull died at Hamburg; others have said at Lubeck.

The only works of Bull in print are lessons in the "Parthenia, or the maiden-head of the first music that ever was printed for the virginals." An anthem of his, "Deliver me, O God," is to be found in Bernard's collection of church-music. Dr Ward has given a list of compositions of Dr Bull in manuscript in the collection of the late Dr Pepusch, by which it appears that he was equally excellent in vocal and instrumental harmony. By some of the lessons in the Parthenia it seems that he was possessed of a power of execution on the harpsichord far beyond what is generally conceived of the masters of that time. As to his lessons, they were, in the estimation of Dr Pepusch, not only for the harmony and contrivance, but for air and modulation, so excellent, that he scrupled not to prefer them to those of Couperin, Scarlatti, and others of the modern composers for the harpsichord.

(George)**, bishop of St David's, was born at Wells, in 1634; and educated at Exeter college, in Oxford. The first benefice he enjoyed was that of St George's, near Bristol, whence he rose successively to be rector of Suddington in Gloucestershire, prebendary of Gloucester, archdeacon of Llandaff, and in 1705 bishop of St David's. This dignity he enjoyed about four years, and died in 1709. During the usurpation of Cromwell, he adhered steadily, though still with great prudence, to the forms of the church of England; and in the reign of James II. preached very strenuously against the errors of Popery. He wrote, 1. A defense of the Nicene faith. 2. Apolitical harmony. Bull in eximia Domini, a particular bull read every year, on the day of the Lord's supper, or Maundy Thursday, in the Pope's presence, containing excommunications and anathemas against heretics, and all who disturb or oppose the jurisdiction of the holy see. After the reading of the bull, the Pope throws a burning torch in the public place, to denote the thunder of this anathema.

Golden Bull, an edict, or imperial constitution, made by the emperor Charles IV., reputed to be the magna charta, or the fundamental law of the German empire.

It is called golden, because it has a golden seal, in the form of a pope's bull, tied with yellow and red cords of silk; upon one side is the emperor represented sitting on his throne, and on the other the capitol of Rome. It is also called Caroline, on Charles IV.'s account. Till the publication of the golden bull, the form and ceremony of the election of an emperor were dubious and undetermined, and the number of the electors not fixed. This solemn edict regulated the functions, rights, privileges, and pre-eminences, of the electors. The original, which is in Latin, on vellum, is preserved at Frankfort; this ordinance, containing 30 articles or chapters, was approved of by all the princes of the empire, and remain still in force.

Silver Bulls were not in so frequent use; tho' we do not want instances of them.

Leaden Bulls were sent by the emperors of Constantinople to despots, patriarchs, and princes; and the like were also used by the grandees of the Imperial court, as well as by the kings of France, Sicily, &c. and by bishops, patriarchs, and popes. It is to be observed, that the leaden bulls of these last had, on one side, the name of the pope or bishop inscribed. Polydore Virgil makes Pope Stephen III. the first who used leaden bulls, about the year 752. But others find instances of them as early as Silverius, Leo I. and Gregory the Great. The latter popes, beside their own names, strike the figures of St Peter and St Paul on their bulls; a practice first introduced by Pope Paschal II. But why, in these bulls, the figure of St Paul is on the right, and that of St Peter on the left side, is a question which has occasioned many conjectures and disputes.

Waxen Bulls are said to have been first brought into England by the Normans. They were in frequent use among the Greek emperors, who thus sealed letters to their wives, mothers, and sons. Of these there were two sorts, one red, and the other green.