HALL (Joseph), an eminent prelate of the church of
England, was born in 1574, and educated at Cambridge. He became professor of rhetoric in that university, and then successively was made rector of Halsted in Suffolk, presented to the living of Waltham in Essex, made prebendary of Wolverhampton, dean of Worcester, bishop of Exeter, and lastly of Norwich. His works testify his zeal against Popery, and are much esteemed. He lamented the divisions of the Protestants, and wrote something concerning the means of putting an end to them. July 1616, he attended the embassy of lord Doncaster into France, and upon his return was appointed by his majesty to be one of the divines who should attend him into Scotland. In 1618 he was sent to the synod of Dort with other divines, and pitched upon to preach a Latin sermon before that assembly. But being obliged to return from thence before the synod broke up, on account of his health, he was by the states presented with a gold medal. He wrote, 1. Miscellaneous epistles. 2. Mundus alter et idem. 3. A just censure of travellers. 4. The Christian Seneca. 5. Satires, in six books. 6. A century of meditations; and many other works, which, besides the above fatires, make in all five volumes in folio and quarto. He died in 1656.