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BULLEYN

Volume 4 · 434 words · 1815 Edition

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 Tynemouth castle in the reign of Philip and Mary. In 1563, 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 affixate 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. 2. A regimen against the Pleurify, 8vo, London, 1562. 3. Bulleyn's Bulwark of Defence against all Sicknesses, Sores, and Wounds that dooe 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 regimen 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 Stukeley in 1722.