William Bullein (c.1515–1576) was an English physician and cleric.

Life

On 9 June 1550 Bullein was instituted to the rectory of Blaxhall in Suffolk, where some of his relations lived. This preferment he resigned before 5 November 1554. He afterwards travelled on the continent to study medicine, and it is supposed that he took the degree of M.D. abroad. His name is not found on the roll of the

Royal College of Physicians The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is a British professional membership body dedicated to improving the practice of medicine, chiefly through the accreditation of physicians by examination. Founded by royal charter from King Henry VIII in 1 ...

. Bullein died on 7 January 1576, and was buried on 9 January at St. Giles's, Cripplegate. In the same grave were buried his brother Richard, another cleric and medical writer, and John Foxe. Over the tomb was a plated stone with a Latin inscription, commemorating the virtues of all three. Bullein's views were

Puritan The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become more Protestant. ...

, and he has been compared to Thomas Brasbridge.

Works

In 1558–9 Bullein published ''A newe booke entituled the Gouernement of Healthe''. It was dedicated to Sir Thomas Hilton, knight, baron of Hilton and captain of Tynemouth Castle. A second edition appeared in 1595; it concludes with a new prose ''Epilogue'', dated 1 March 1559. In 1562–3 appeared ''Bullein's Bulwarke''. The treatise is dedicated, from London, to

Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon KG PC (4 March 1526 – 23 July 1596), was an English nobleman and courtier. He was the patron of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, William Shakespeare's playing company. The son of Mary Boleyn, he was a cousin of E ...

, and was written in prison. It is divided into four parts: (1) ''Booke of Simples'', (2) ''Dialogue betwene Sorenes and Chyrurgi'', (3) ''Booke of Compounds'', (4) ''Booke of the Vse of sicke men and medicens''. The ''Booke of Simples'' is one of the earliest of English

herbal A herbal is a book containing the names and descriptions of plants, usually with information on their medicinal, tonic, culinary, toxic, hallucinatory, aromatic, or magical powers, and the legends associated with them.Arber, p. 14. A herbal m ...

s. In the ''Dialogue betwene Sorenes and Chyrurgi'' he inveighs against the race of quacksalvers; elsewhere in the same dialogue he gives a list of eminent English chirurgeons, mentioning the achievements of each. He relates, among other matters: a cure that he had worked on Sir Richard Alie, a knight known for skill in fortifications; some Suffolk witches that he had known; and that he was for some time under the patronage of Sir John Delaval (1498–1562). This work was under the influence of the ''Castell of Health'' of

Thomas Elyot Sir Thomas Elyot (c. 149626 March 1546) was an English diplomat and scholar. He is best known as one of the first proponents of the use of the English language for literary purposes. Early life Thomas was the child of Sir Richard Elyot's firs ...

. The content was largely Galenist, but with early mentions of Paracelsian ideas. In 1564–5 Bullein published ''A Dialogue bothe pleasaunte and pietifull''.''A Dialogue bothe pleasaunte and pietifull, wherein is a goodly regimente against the fever Pestilence, with a consolacion and comfort against death. Newly corrected by Willyam Bulleyn, the autour thereof. Imprinted at London by Ihon Kingston. Marcii, Anno salutis m.d.lxiiii.'', black letter. Of this edition only one copy (in the Britwell collection) is known. The words on the title-page, "newly corrected", do not necessarily imply that there had been an earlier edition. Other editions appeared in 1573 and 1578. It combines eloquence with humorous anecdotes and satire. Bullein aimed to prescribe remedies against the sweating-sickness, imported from

Le Havre Le Havre (, ; nrf, Lé Hâvre ) is a port city in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region of northern France. It is situated on the right bank of the estuary of the river Seine on the Channel southwest of the Pays de Caux, very ...

in 1564, but to encourage his countrymen in their affliction. The ''Dialogue'' consists of a number of separate scenes: the second is between a rich usurer, Antonius, and Medicus, who in the 1564 edition is styled Antonius Capistrinus, but who in later editions bears the name Dr. Tocrub, probably intended for Dr. Burcot (

Burchard Kranich Burchard Kranich (c. 1515–1578) (also known as Doctor Burcot) was a mining engineer and physician who came to England from Germany. He was involved in mining ventures in Derbyshire and Cornwall, and in assaying the black ore, thought to be gold- ...

), who is satirised in succeeding dialogues.

Arthur Henry Bullen Arthur Henry Bullen, often known as A. H. Bullen, (9 February 1857, London – 29 February 1920, Stratford-on-Avon) was an English editor and publisher, a specialist in 16th and 17th century literature, and founder of the Shakespeare Head Press, ...

and Mark W. Bullen edited the ''Dialogue against the Fever Pestilence'' (1888). Bullein wrote also: * ''A comfortable Regiment and a very wholsome order against the moste perilous Pleurisie, whereof many doe daily die within this Citee of London and other places …'', London, 1562, black letter. Dedicated to Sir Robert Wingfield of Letheringham, knight. * ''A briefe and short discourse of the Vertue and Operation of Balsame. With an instruction for those that haue their health to preserue the same. Whereunto is added Doctor Bullin's Diet for Health'', London, 1585, black letter. Some verses by Bullein are prefixed to John Sadler's translation of Flavius Vegetius, 1572. ''An Almanack and Prognostication of Master Bulleins'' was licensed to Abraham Vele in 1563–4, and ''Serten prayers of Master Bullion'' were licensed to Christopher Barker in 1569–70.

Family

Bullein married Sir Thomas Hilton's widow Agnes or Anne, and was in London with her in 1561. William Hilton, brother of Sir Thomas, accused Bullein of causing his death. Some legal actions followed, and while writing the ''Bulwarke'' Bullein was in prison for debt. A widower by 1566, Bullein married Anne Doffield as his second wife in that year.

Notes

References

External links

* ;Attribution * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bullein, William 1515 births 1576 deaths 16th-century English medical doctors English medical writers 16th-century English Puritan ministers