Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 07.djvu/248

 'Deliver me, O God,' and Boyce's 'Cathedral Music' (iii. 163) another, 'Oh, Lord, my God,' which in manuscript copies is generally known as 'Almighty God.' A volume of psalms by William Daman [q. v.] was published in 1579 by John Bull, 'citizen and goldsmith of London,' who has been sometimes identified with the famous organist, but this is clearly an error. The principal vocal compositions of Bull which are extant in manuscript are in the Christ Church, Music School (Oxford), and Peterhouse (Cambridge) collections. Of his instrumental music, in which he excelled, the best known works are in the collection engraved by William Hole and published (without a date) in 1611 under the title of 'Parthenia; or, the Mayden-head of the First Musick that ever was printed for the Virginals.' The other contributors to this work were William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons. Prefixed to it are sonnets by George Chapman and Mr. Hugh Holland, in the latter of which occur the lines : Loe, where doth pace in order A brauer Bull, then did Europe cary : Nay, let all Europe showe me such an other.

Much of Bull's instrumental music remains in manuscript, particularly in the Virginal books at Buckingham Palace, the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge), the Royal College of Music, and the British Museum ; an imperfect manuscript (Add. MS. 23603) in the latter collection, which formerly was in the possession of Queen Caroline and Dr. Pepusch, is of especial interest as containing the dates at which the different compositions were written, and (in one case) indications of the organ stops to be used in the performance. In the middle of the last century Dr. Pepusch had in his possession a considerable collection of Bull's music, which is described by Ward (Lives of the Gresham Professors, p. 199). Some of these manuscripts have disappeared. One of the lost manuscripts contained the composition upon which Richard Clark [q. v.] based his alleged discovery of Bull's authorship of the national anthem, 'God save the King ; ' the curious history of this attempted imposture was discussed at length in a series of articles in the 'Musical Times' for 1878. Bull's instrumental music is extremely difficult, and shows that he must have possessed a remarkable power of execution, and have been worthy of the reputation he enjoyed. Burney dismisses his compositions as pedantic, but as far as can be judged, though not endowed with the spontaneity which often characterises the works of his great contemporaries Byrd and Gibbons, he possesses a distinct individuality, and approaches more nearly the Flemish school than the Italian, to which most English composers of the period inclined. Two portraits of him are known to exist. The first is in the Oxford Music School Collection, and is dated 1589, 'Anno ætatis suæ 27.' It represents the composer in his bachelor's hood ; in one corner are a skull and cross-bones over an hourglass, and round the frame are the following lines :— The Bull by force In Field doth Raigne, But Bull by Skill Good will doth gayne.

The head from this picture is engraved in Hawkins's ' History of Music.' The second portrait—a half-length—represents Bull in later life, and was probably painted in the Netherlands. It is now in the possession of Mr. W. H. Cummings.  BULL, JOHN (fl. 1636), fanatic, was a weaver in St. Botolph's parish, Aldgate, London. He and Richard Farnham, another weaver living in Whitechapel, attracted much public attention about 1636 by announcing that they were prophets having 'the very spirit of God.' Each declared that he would ' be slaine at Hierusalem, where Christ suffered, and rise againe,' and that after his resurrection ' he shall reigne there as a priest.' They affirmed that 'no man shall have the least power to insidiate their lives or bring them to any untimely and remarkable death.' Bull was lodged in Bridewell, and on 16 April 1636 he and Farnham were examined by the council. They boldly adhered to their former pretensions, and a hostile pamphleteer declared that they smelt of the sect of the Throskites and Sabbatarians. Bull appears to have been in prison as late as