Walter, the son of Henry Bale of Warnwell in Dorsetshire, was born at Portsham in the same county, and educated at Winchester school, from which he was sent to Oxford, and, after two years' probation, admitted perpetual fellow of New College in the year 1550. Having taken his degrees in arts, he practised physic, and in 1558 was proctor of the university. About this time he obtained a prebend of Wells, which he resigned in 1579. In the year 1561 he was appointed queen's professor of physic, in 1563 proceeded doctor in that faculty, and afterwards became one of her majesty's physicians in ordinary. He was thought skilful in his profession, and had considerable practice. He died in 1592, aged sixty-three, and was buried in the inner chapel of New College. His works are, 1st, A Discourse of three kinds of Pepper in common use, 1588, 8vo. 2d, Brief Treatise of the Preservation of the Eye-sight, first printed in the reign of Elizabeth in 12mo, afterwards at Oxford in 1616 and 1654, 8vo. 3d, Directions for Health, Natural and Artificial, with Medicines for all Diseases of the Eyes, 1626, 4to.