in antiquity, a kind of ornaments much in use among the ancient Romans. Mr Whittaker is of opinion that they were originally formed of leather among all ranks of people; and it is certain, that they continued so to the last among the commonalty. He also imagines, that at first the bulla was intended as an amulet rather than an ornament; as a proof of which he tells us that the bullae were frequently impressed with the figure of the sexual parts. It is universally asserted by the critics, that the bullae were made hollow for the reception of an amulet; but this Mr Whittaker contradicts from the figure of a golden one lately found at Manchester, which had no aperture whereby an amulet could have been introduced.—Pliny refers the original of the bulla to the elder Tarquin, who gave one with the pretexts to his son, because at the age of 14 he had with his own hand killed an enemy; and in imitation of him it was afterwards assumed by other patricians. Others affirm that the bulla was given by that king to the sons of all the patricians who had been civil offices. Lastly, others allege that Romulus first introduced the bulla, and gave it to Tullus Hostilius, the first child born of the rape of the Sabines.—As to the form of the bulla, Mr Whittaker informs us that they were originally made in the shape of hearts; but they did not always retain the form of an heart, any more than they were always made of leather. As the wealth of the state and the riches of individuals increased, the young patrician distinguished himself by a bulla of gold, while the common people wore the amulet of their ancestors. The figure of an heart then became so generally round, some even having the impression of an heart upon them, that there are not many of the original form to be found in the cabinets of the curious. The form is naturally varied from a complete circle, to that of a segment; and this was the shape of the abovementioned bulla found at Manchester. When the youth arrived at 15 years of age, they hung up their bullae about the necks of their gods laces. We are further informed, that the bullae were not only hung about the necks of young men, but of horses also. We may add, that bullae were sometimes allowed to statues; whence the phrase statuae bullate.

Bulla was also the denomination given to divers other metallic ornaments made after the same form; and in this sense bullae seem to include all gold and silver ornaments of a roundish form, whether worn on the habits of men, the trappings of horses, or the like. Such were those decorations used by the ancients on their doors and belts. The bullae of doors were a kind of large-headed nails fastened on the doors of the rich, and kept bright with great care. The doors of temples were sometimes adorned with golden bullae. Mr Bandelot takes the bullae worn by soldiers on their belts to be something more than mere ornaments. They seem to have been considered as preservations from dangers and diseases, and even means of acquiring glory, and other advantages. The like may perhaps be extended to the bullae on doors, which were probably placed there as a security to them from being broken or violated.

Bulla also denoted a table hung up in the public courts, to distinguish which days were fasti, and which nefasti; answering in some measure to our calendar.

BULLEYN (William), a learned physician and botanist, was born in the isle of Ely, in the former part of the reign of Henry VIII. and educated at Cambridge. Botany being his favourite study, he travelled through various parts of England, Scotland, and Germany, chiefly with an intention to improve his knowledge in that science. In the reign of Edward VI. or of queen Mary, Mr Bulleyn appears, from his remarks on the natural productions of that country, to have resided at Norwich, or in that neighbourhood, and also to have spent some time at Bloxhall in Suffolk; but he afterwards removed into the north, and settled at Durham, where he practised physic with considerable reputation and success. His great patron at this time was Sir Thomas Hilton, knight, baron of Hilton, who was governor of Tinmouth castle in the reign of Philip and Mary. In 1560, he came to London; and, soon after his arrival, was accused by William Hilton of Bidick, of having murdered his brother Sir Thomas, our author's friend and patron. He was arraigned before the duke of Norfolk, and honourably acquitted. This Hilton afterwards hired some villains to assassinate the doctor; but this attempt proving ineffectual, he had him arrested on an action for debt, and he remained for a long time in prison. During this confinement, Dr Bulleyn composed several of those works which raised his reputation as a medical writer. He died in January 1576, and was buried in St Giles's Cripplegate, in the same grave with his brother the divine, who died 13 years before, and in which John Fox the martyrologist was interred 11 years after. Dr Bulleyn appears from his writings to have been well acquainted with the works of the ancient Greek, Roman, and Arabian physicians. According to the modern practice, his books, were they generally known, would be of little use; but as he was a man of genius and fertile imagination, they are by no means barren of entertainment. He wrote,

1. The government of health, 1559, 8vo. According to Anthony Wood, it was first printed in 1548; but the dedication to his patron, baron Hilton, is dated 1548, 1595, 12mo. 2. A regimen against the pleurisy, 8vo. London, 1562. 3. Bulleyn's bulwark of defense against all sicknesses, fevers, and wounds, that doce daily assault mankind, London printed by John Kingston, 1562, folio. This includes, The government of health. 4. A dialogue both pleasant and pietifull, wherein is a goodlie regiment against the fever pestilence, with a consolation and comfort against death, London, 1564, 8vo. 1569, 8vo. Very scarce. There is a wooden print of the author prefixed to the first edition of his Government of health; also a small one engraved by Steukeley in 1722.