GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-000159
NameJoseph Hall
TitleDr.
Gendermale
Denomination
Livedb. 1574-07-01 - d. 1656-09-08 (old)
Linked Manuscripts
Linked SermonsA sermon preaced at Grayes iinne by Docktor Hall called the Grate impostor laid open out of Jeremiah xvii ix the hart is deceitful above all things -- preacher (autograph: no)A sermon preached to the cort at Theobalds on sundaye by docktor hall called the best bargaine by buy the truth and sell it not -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on Psalms 68:19 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on unidentified text -- preacher? (autograph: no)The third Sermon By Josvah Hall Doctor of Deuinity Preached before ye Kinge -- preacher (autograph: no)
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesExeter -- BishopricNorwich -- BishopricHawstead -- ParishEmmanuel College -- Place of Study
Source of DataRichard Snoddy; David Robinson
Biographical Sources ConsultedODNB (Article: 11976), CCEd (Person ID: 69953)
Other NoteThe associated sermon identifies the preacher only as "Dr. Hall", but given that it was preached at Whitehall, the preacher likely had some reputation at court. This makes Joseph Hall the most likely candidate. Born 1 July 1574 at Bristow Park, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, son of John Hall and Winifred Bambridge. Lack of funds prevented him from attending university for a time. His father hired William Pelsett, rector of Market Bosworth as tutor until Nathaniel Gilby, son of the local priest and puritan controversialist Anthony Gilby, intervened. Matriculated from Emmanuel College, 1589; BA, 1593; fellow, 1595; MA and subsequently elected to university lectureship in rhetoric, 1596. At this time he also began his career as a poet, publishing his Virgidemiarum in 1597. Made rector of Hawstead, Suffolk in 1601. In 1603 he proceeded BD and married Elizabeth Winniff, with whom he had six sons and two daughters. He left Hawstead in 1607 over a pay dispute, and was given the donative of Waltham Holy Cross, Essex by Lady Denny. Appointed tutor to Prince Henry, also in 1607. This post permitted him connections at court, allowing him to gain a reputation as "one of the most noted preachers" of the century according to one of his biographers, Richard McCabe. DD in 1610. Dean of Worcester, 1616. One of the English delegates to the Synod of Dort in 1618. Bishop of Exeter, 1627. In addition to his poetry and sermons, Hall published many works of controversy against Catholicism, the Brownists, and in defence of the Church of England. Translated to Norwich in 1641, but imprisoned the following year for opposition to parliament. He was released by 1643, but the Act for the Sequestration of the Property of Malignants deprived him of the revenues from his properties. Driven out of his bishop's palace in 1647, he continued to perform clerical duties and write devotional works from his house in Higham. Died there 8 September 1656.
GEMMS record createdNovember 08, 2015
GEMMS record last editedDecember 01, 2023