Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 05.djvu/206

 archbishop of York. Eventually he entered the ministry and became rector of Adisham in Kent. On Mary's accession his church-warden, heading the papists in his parish, procured in December 1553 a priest from a neighbouring parish to say mass. Bland intefered before the celebration, and explained to the people the 'misuse of the sacrament in the mass.' He was immediately arrested, and in May 1554, having spent ten weeks in prison, was examined before Harpsfield, arch-deacon of Canterbury, and Collins, the commissary of Cardinal Pole. This examination and many others led to no result, and for some ten months Bland was kept in close confinement 'within the bar amongst the felons, and irons upon our arms.' His chief 'enemy was Thorneden, suffragan bishop of Dover, who superseded him in his living. Both Collins and Thorneden had turned with the times, and Bland was able to remind them both to their faces publicly how he had heard them make profession of the opinions they were now persecuting. After many and tedious examinations, in which Bland gallantly held his foes at bay, he finally, in June 1555, confessed his denial, firstly, of the corporal presence; secondly, of the legality of administration of the sacraments in an unknown tongue; and, thirdly, of the legality of administration of the eucharist in one kind; he was consequently condemned, and on 12 July 1555 burned at Canterbury, along with John Sheterden, vicar of Rolvenden, and two laymen, John Prankish and Humfrey Middleton.

 BLAND, JOHN (1702–1750), writing-master, was born 17 Aug. 1702 in Crutched-friars, London, his father being a clerk in the Victualling Office, Tower Ilill (, Origin and Progress of Letters, part ii. p. 25). About 1710 John Bland was put to Westminster School, where he stayed four years, and then, returning to the city, he became a pupil of a Mr. Snell, Foster Lane. About 1717 he took a clerkship in the Custom-house (his own Essay on Writing, 1730, preface), where he stayed nine years, and where he acquired his knowledge of ship-marks, invoices, bill-headings, applications, petitions, &c. which form the matter of his published copy-plates. In 1726 he became writing-master in Mr. William Watts's Academy in Little Tower Street, and thence, in 1730. he issued the 'Essay on Writing,' his preface being dated 13 Jan. 1729-30. About the same time Bland prepared five elaborately flourished pieces of penmanship for George Bickhams 'Universal Penman' (. part ii. p. 27). In 1739, after thirteen years with Mr. Watts, he established himself in Birchin Lane as an accountant and a writing-master. In 1740 another writing-master, Joseph Champion, issued a work 'Penmanship,' &c., in which some specimens by Bland appeared. In 1744 Bland relinquished his office in Birchin Lane, and opened an academy in Bishopsgate Street, and he continued at the head of that till he died, 21 Jan. 1749-50, aged 47. He was buried in St. Martin Outwich Church, at the end of Threadneedle Street. Bland's 'Essay on Writing' was republished in 1803.

 BLAND, JOHN (d. 1788), dramatist, is the author of a solitary dramatic production, the 'Song of Solomon,' in seven scenes, printed in 8vo in 1760. He is therein styled a gentleman, and is described as living in Portpool Lane, Gray's Inn Lane, where he is prepared to give lessons in the art of punctuation by the accent points in the Hebrew code. The 'Biographia Dramatica' asserts that he died at his house at Deptford about November 1788.

 BLAND, MARIA THERESA (1769–1838), vocalist, was the daughter of Italian daughter of Italian Jews named Romanzini. Her parents came to London soon after their daughter's birth, and in the spring of 1773, through the influence of a hairdresser named Cady, obtained an engagement for their child at Hughes's Riding School. Her vocal talent developed at a very early age, and after singing at the Royal Circus she was engaged by Daly for the Dublin Theatre, where she sang with great success. In 1782, on the retirement of Mrs. Wrighten, she was engaged at Drury Lane to take her parts, which were those known as 'singing chambermaids.' Miss Romanzini's first appearance at Drury Lane took place pool, and sang there with such success, both on the stage and at concerts, that she refused to return to Drury Lane unless her salary were raised. The management declining to grant her request, after waiting a few weeks, she came back to London and resumed her