THE POETICAL WORKS OF JOSEPH HALL. Containing his SATIRES, To which is prefixed THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. I first adventure, follow me who list, PROLOGUE EDINBURGH: PRINTED BY MUNDELL AND SON, ROYAL BANK CLOSE. Anne 3793. THE LIFE OF HALL. Jo OSEPH HALL, fucceffively Bishop of Exeter and Norwich, was born at Briftow Park, in the pa rifh of Ashby de la Zouch, in Leicestershire, 1st July 1574. His father, according to his own account, was an officer under the Earl of Huntingdon, Prefident of the North, who, from his infancy, had deftined him to the Church; and his mother, whom he has celebrated for her examplary piety, was extremely folicitous that he should be of a profeffion which the her felf held fo much in veneration. He received his school-education at his native place; and, at the age of fifteen, he was sent to Emanuel college, Cambridge, of which, in due time, after taking his degrees, he became a fellow. He often difputed and preached before the University; and he read the rhetoric lecture in the public schools for two years, with great applaufe; or, as he himfelf expreffes it, " was encou raged with a fufficient frequency of auditors." He distinguished himfelf as a wit and a poet very early in life; for, in 1597, his 23d year, he published his Virgidemiarum; Satires, in fix books, which completely established his poetical reputation. After eight years refidenee in college, he was prefented to the rectory of Halfted, in Suffolk, ? by Sir Robert Drury; and, being thus fettled, he married the daughter of Mr. George Winniff, with whom he lived happily forty-nine years. In 1605, he accompanied Sir Edmund Bacon to the Spa, where he compofed his Second Century of Meditations; which were well received at court, and much read by Prince Henry. On his return, he was appointed Chaplain to that promising young prince, and had the donative of Waltham Holy-crofs given him by Lord Denny, afterwards Earl of Norwich. In 1612, he took the degree of Doctor in Divinity. During his refidence at Waltham, he was made a prebendary of the collegiate church of Wolverhamton; and, in 1616, dean of Worcester; while he was attending the embaffy of Lord Hay into France. In 1617, he attended his Majefty, as one of his chaplains, into Scotland, where he exerted himfelf in fupport of Episcopacy, against Prefbyterianism. Having acquired a confiderable reputation in polemical divinity, he was sent, the year following, with other English divines, to the Synod of Dort; which the declining state of his health obliged him to leave in a fhort time. On his departure, the president and affiftants of that famous asfembly took a folemn leave of him; and the deputies of the States prefented him with a rich medal of gold," as a monument," he says, "of their refpect for his poor endeavours." Having refused, in 1624, the bishopric of Gloucefer from King James, he accepted, in 1627, that of Exeter from King Charles. Z z iij |
