BUNCE (_Jack_), _alias_ Frederick Altamont, a _ci-devant_ actor, one of the crew of the pirate vessel.--Sir W. Scott, _The Pirate_ (time, William III.). BUNCH (_Mother_), an alewife, mentioned by Dekker in his drama called _Satiromastix_ (1602). In 1604 was published _Pasquil's Jests, mixed with Mother Bunch's Merriments_. There is a series of "Fairy Tales" called _Mother Bunch's Fairy Tales_. _Bunch (Mother)_, the supposed possessor of a "cabinet broken open" and revealing "rare secrets of Art and Nature," such as love-spells (1760). BUN'CLE, messenger to the earl of Douglas.--Sir W. Scott, _Fair Maid of Perth_ (time, Henry IV.). _Bun'cle (John)_, a prodigious hand at matrimony, divinity, a song, and a glass. He married seven wives, and lost all in the flower of their age. For two or three days after the death of a wife he was inconsolable, but soon became resigned to his loss, which he repaired by marrying again.--Thos. Amory, _The Life, etc., of John Buncle, Esq._ BUNDLE, the gardener, father of Wilelmi'na and friend of Tom Tug the waterman. He is a plain, honest man, but greatly in awe of his wife, who nags him from morning till night. _Mrs. Bundle_, a vulgar Mrs. Malaprop, and a termagant. "Everything must be her way or there's no getting any peace." She greatly frequents the minor theatres, and acquires notions of sentimental romance. BUN'GAY (_Friar_), one of the friars in a comedy by Robert Green, entitled _Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay_. Both the friars are conjurors, and the piece concludes with one of their pupils being carried off to the infernal regions on the back of one of friar Bacon's demons (1591). _Bungay_, publisher in _History of Pendennis_, by W.M. Thackeray. BUNGEY (_Friar_), personification of the charlatan of science in the fifteenth century. [Illustration] In _The Last of the Barons_, by lord Lytton, friar Bungey is an historical character, and is said to have "raised mists and vapors," which befriended Edward IV, at the battle of Barnet. BUNS'BY (_Captain John_ or _Jade_), owner of the _Cautious Clara_. Captain Cuttle considered him "a philosopher, and quite an oracle." Captain Bunsby had one "stationary and one revolving eye," a very red face, and was extremely taciturn. The captain was entrapped by Mrs. MacStinger (the termagant landlady of his friend captain Cuttle) into marrying her.--C. Dickens, _Dombey and Son_ (1846). BUNTING, the pied piper of Ham'elin. He was so called from his dress. BUR (_John_), the servant of Job Thornberry, the brazier of Penzance. Brusque in his manners, but most devotedly attached to his master, by whom he was taken from the workhouse. John Bur kept his master's "books" for twenty-two years with the utmost fidelity.--G.R. Colman, Jun., _John Bull_ (1805).