Poets

He was second son of the twelve children of John Hall, of Bristow Park, in the parish of Ashby de la Zouche, and was born there on 1st July, and baptized on 4th July, 1574. Educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he was appointed the first Master of Blundell's Grammar-school at Tiverton, but resigned it almost immediately on being offered the Rectory of Halsted, in Suffolk. He was then appointed to the Deanery of Worcester. In the sequel, King Charles I. promoted him to the vacant seer of Exeter, and he was consecrated on 23rd December, 1627. His theological acumen had recommended him long before to King James I., who made him his chaplain, and commissioned him to attend the Synod of Dort in 1619; but the weak state of his health compelled him to return after a short stay. To enable him to maintain his station of bishop, the Rectory of St. Briock, in Cornwall, was given him in commendam. His Register testifies to his diligence in his official duties, as also his care in providing good benefices for his children. In his transactions with the Mayor and Chamber of this city he was frank and honourable. In one of his letters he says: "I beseech you, let us mutually have all fayre termes, without trenching upon each other's libertyes; that so neither part have any cause of grievance." His numerous writings - moral, theological, ascetic, and poetical - display abundant evidence of nervous vigour and genius: still, his warmest admirers must concede that his religious zea..