"Non auro, non argento, sacra Bulla refulget,
Insignit chartas plumbea forma sacras."
The word bulla—meaning first a bubble, then any kind of small ornament "quasi inflata," then a seal of a globular shape—came to be applied to a charter sealed with such a globular seal, and since the 15th century, exclusively to Papal letters of the first rank. If the bull is in forma gratiosa the seal is attached by threads of red and yellow silk; if in forma rigorosa, hemp is used. If the Pope issues a bull before he is enthroned, nothing is put on the seal, and the bull is commonly called bulla blanca. Before the time of Nicholas IV. such bulls were only valid if confirmed after enthroning. Since then they have been valid without confirmation. Consistorial bulls are issued after consultation with the consistory of cardinals, and are signed by all the cardinals consulted. Ducange (Gloss. Med. et Inf. Lat.) says that consistorial bulls are often sealed with the signet-ring.
A brief is not so important as a bull. It is written upon white paper, or thin parchment, in modern cursive characters, and is sometimes sent open, sometimes closed. It begins with the name of the Pope, then the title Papa, then the number of the Pope, then the phrase ad perpetuam rei memoriam, or in Domino salutem et opostolicam benedictionem; it ends with the name of the place, and the date (the day of the month, the year A.D., and the year of the Pope), and, finally, the words sub annulo piscatoris. The principal mark of the brief is its seal. It is sealed with red wax, with the signet called "the fisherman's ring," which dates from the 13th century, and bears a representation of St Peter fishing in a boat, and the name and the number of the Pope. The distinction between briefs and bulls is not much older than the 15th century. In the early Middle Ages the word breve was used to denote all sorts of short charters, and Ducange in his Glossary gives over a hundred different kinds of these. Papal bulls and briefs, like all other important legal instruments, are liable to be forged, and hence Roman Catholic jurists have made a special study of the various marks by which they are able to tell the age of a charter. The bulls and briefs of greatest importance have been published in Bullaria collections which have been put forth at different times under the authority of the church. The most important of those collections is the Bullarium Magnum Romanum, a Leone Maguo usque ad Benedictum XIV., Luxembourg, 1727–1758, 19 vols. fol., and its continuations.
BÜLOW, Friedrich Wilhelm (1755-1816), a Prussian general, was born at Falkenberg on the 16th February 1755. He entered the army at the age of fourteen, rose slowly, and in 1797 was placed at the head of a battalion. He took part in the campaigns of 1806-7, and in 1809 was made major-general and brigadier of infantry. On the renewal of the war against France in 1813 he took the field with the rank of lieutenant-general, was engaged in the battle of Mockern, and stormed the defences of Halle. He was victorious over Oudinot at Luckau and Grossbeeren, and over Ney at Dennewitz. He led the attack on the fortifications at Leipsic, and was conspicuous in the Prussian victory at Laon. To him also belonged the honour of closing the campaign by the capture of Montmartre. For his valuable services he was raised to the rank of general, and made Baron Dennewitz, with a hand some revenue. During the Hundred Days he commanded the fourth army corps, and by his rapid march contributed to Blücher's success at Waterloo. After the conclusion of the war he retired to Königsberg, where he died on the 25th February 1816.
BULWER, Sir Henry Lytton Earle (1804-1872), statesman and diplomatist, created a peer, under the title of Baron Dalling and Bulwer, in 1871. See Dalling.
BULWER-LYTTON, Sir Edward George Earle Lytton (1806-73), brother of the preceding, created a peer, under the title of Baron Lytton, in 1866. See Lytton.
BUNDELKHAND, an extensive tract, consisting partly of British districts and partly of native states, in the North-Western Provinces of India, lying between 23° 52′ and 26° 26′ N. lat., and 77° 53′ and 81° 39′ E. long. It is bounded on the N. by the Jumna, on the E. by the Baghalkhand or the Rewá state, on the S. by the Central Provinces, and the W. by the state of Gwalior.
It comprises the British districts of Hamírpur, Jalaun, Jhánsi, Lalatpur, and Bándá; the semi-independent states of Orchhá or Tebri, Datiyá, and Samthar; and the following petty states held under grants from the British Government, viz.:—Ajegarh, Alipurá, Ashtgarhí Jágir, Tori-Fathpur, Bijná and Pahári Banká, Bárondá, Báwaní, Berí, Bíhat, Bijáwar, Charkhári, seven Chaubiyáná Kalinjár Jágírs, Chhatrapur, Garraulí, Gáuríhar, Jasú, Jigní, Khaniyá Dháná, Lughásí, Naigáon Ribahí, Panná, and Sarilá, Length of Bundelkhand—200 miles from S.E. to N.W.; breadth, 155 miles; area variously estimated from 18,099 to 23,817 square miles.
The surface of the country is uneven and hilly, except in the N.E. part, which forms an irregular plain cut up by ravines scooped out by torrents during the periodical rains. The plains of Bundelkhand are intersected by three mountain ranges, the Bindháchal, Panná, and Bander chains, the highest elevation not exceeding 2000 feet above sea-level. Beyond these ranges the country is further diversified by isolated hills rising abruptly from a common level, and presenting from their steep and nearly inacces sible scarps eligible sites for castles and strongholds, whence the mountaineers of Bundelkhand have frequently set at defiance the most powerful of the native states of India. The general slope of the country is towards the north-east, as indicated by the course of the rivers which traverse or bound the territory, and finally discharge themselves into the Jumna.
The principal rivers are the Sindh, Betwá, Ken, Baighin, Paisuní, Tons, Pahuj, Dhasán, Bermá, Urmal, and Chandrawál. The Sindh, rising near Sironj in Málwa, marks the frontier line of Bundelkhand on the side of Gwalior. Parallel to this river, but more to the eastward, is the course of the Betwá. Still further to the east flows the Ken, followed in succession by the Baighin, Paisuní, and Tons. The Jumna and the Ken are the only two navigable rivers. Notwithstanding the large number of streams, the depression of their channels and height of their banks render them for the most part unsuitable for the purposes of irrigation, which is conducted by means of jhils and tanks. These artificial lakes are usually formed by throwing embankments across the lower extremities of valleys, and thus arresting and accumulating the waters flowing through them. Some of the tanks are of great capacity: the Barwá Ságar, for instance, is 212 miles in diameter. Diamonds are found, particularly near the town of Panná, in a range of hills called by the natives Band-Ahil.
The mines of Mahárájpur, Rájpur, Kimerá, and Gadásiá contain the finest diamonds; one dug from the last is reputed to be the largest in the world. It was kept in the fort of Kalinjas among the treasures of Rájá Himmat Bahádur. In the reign of the Emperor Akbar the mines of Panná produced diamonds to the amount of £100,000 annually, and were a considerable source of revenue, but for many years they have not been so profitable.
The tree vegetation consists rather of jungle or copse than forest, abounding in game which is preserved by the native chiefs. There are also within these coverts several varieties of wild animals, such as the tiger, leopard, hyena, Wild boar, nilgái, and jackal.
