Fuller.

FULLER (Nicholas), prebendary of Salisbury, and a learned English critic; who published in 1617 Miscellanea Theologica in four books, and afterward two more of Miscellanea Sacra. He died in 1623; and there are some MSS of his remaining in the Bodleian library that show his great skill in Hebrew and philology.

Fuller (Dr Thomas), a learned English divine, was born at Alvington, near Oundle, in Northamptonshire, about the year 1608, and studied at Cambridge. He was chosen minister of St Benet's there; and at about 23 years of age, his merit procured him a fellowship in Sidney-college, and a prebend in Salisbury cathedral. He was soon after presented to the rectory of Broad Windsor in Dorsetshire; and afterwards was made lecturer of the Savoy in London: but upon the pressing of the covenant, he retired to Oxford; and soon after accompanied Sir Ralph Hopton as his chaplain in the army, which he attended in their marches from place to place. After the death of king Charles I., he obtained the living of Waltham-abbey, and was appointed lecturer of St Clement's; and shortly after removed to the lecture of St Bride's, Fleet-street. Upon the restoration, he recovered his prebend in the cathedral of Salisbury, was appointed chaplain extraordinary to his majesty, and created doctor of divinity. It is said, his memory was so amazingly tenacious and comprehensive, that he could make use of a sermon verbatim if he once heard it. He once undertook, in passing to and from Temple-bar to the Poultry, to tell at his return every sign as it stood in order on both sides of the way, repeating them either backwards or forwards; and this task he actually performed. He wrote, 1. A History of the Holy War. 2. The Church-history of Britain, in folio. 3. Andronicus, or the Unfortunate Politician, in 8vo. 4. A Purgation of Palestine. 5. A History of English Worthies; and other works. He died in August 1661; and was interred in the chancel of Cranford church, in Middlesex, whither his body was attended by at least 200 of his brethren of the ministry.

workman employed in the woollen manufactories to mill or scour cloths, sarges, and other stuffs, in order to render them more thick, compact, and durable. See Fulling.

*See Clay, Fuller's Earth, in natural history, a species of clay*, of a greyish ash-coloured brown, in all degrees from very pale to almost black, and it has generally something of a greenish cast. It is very hard and firm, of a compact texture, of a rough and somewhat dusty surface that adheres slightly to the tongue. It is very soft to the touch, not staining the hands, nor breaking easily between the fingers. It has a little harshness between the teeth, and melts freely in the mouth. Thrown into water, it makes no ebullition or hissing; but swells gradually in bulk, and falls into a fine soft powder. It makes no effervescence with aquafortis.

The greatest quantity and the finest earth of this kind in the world, is dug in the pits at Wavendon, near Woburn in Bedfordshire. The strata in these pits lie thus: From the surface to the depth of six feet, there are several layers or beds of sand, all reddish, but some lighter coloured than others. Under these there is a thin stratum of a sandstone, which they break through, and then there is the fuller's earth. The upper stratum of this is about a foot thick: the workmen call it cledge, and throw it aside as useless; being commonly fouled with the sand which originally covered it, and which insinuates itself a good way into it. After this, they come to the fine fuller's earth for sale, which lies to the depth of eight feet more. The matter of this is divided into several layers, there being commonly about a foot and an half between one horizontal fissure and another. Of these several layers, the upper half, where the earth breaks itself, is tinged red; which seems to be owing to the running of the water upon it from among the sands above; some of which are probably of a ferruginous nature, or have ferruginous matter among them. This reddish fuller's earth the workmen call crop; and between the cledge and this there is a thin stratum of matter, of less than an inch, which in taste, colour, and external appearance, resembles the terra Japonica of the shops. The lower half of the strata of fuller's earth they call wall-earth. This is untinged with the red colour of the other, and seems the most proper for fulling. Under the fuller's earth there is a stratum of white and coarse stone about two feet thick. They seldom dig thro' this; but if they do, they find more strata of sand.

This earth is of great use in scouring cloths, stuffs, &c. imbibing all the grease and oil used in preparing, dressing, &c. of the wool; for which reason it is made a contraband commodity, and is not to be exported under the penalty of 1s. for every pound weight. See Fulling.

Fuller's Weed, or Teazle. See Dipsacus.