Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 24.djvu/78

Hall alters the point of view and adds a good deal from the floating knowledge of the citizens of London. It is for the early years of Henry VIII that he becomes an authority of the greatest value, not so much for the facts which he relates as for the light which he throws upon the social life and opinions of his times. He expresses the profound loyalty of the middle class, and represents the conditions which rendered possible the policy of the king. His descriptions of the festivities of the court are full and vivid; he shows us the discontent awakened by Wolsey, and gives many instructive accounts of London life, and of the growing spirit of independence among Englishmen. His literary merits are of high order, especially in his accounts of the opposition which Wolsey's masterful proceedings aroused; his power of describing the action of a mob is admirable. Hall has scarcely yet met with due recognition. His chronicle was one of the books prohibited by Mary in 1555, and in consequence became rare. The later chronicles of Grafton, Holinshed, and Stow borrowed a good deal from Hall, and became more popular, so that Hall's chronicle was not reprinted till 1809 by Ellis, and the only English historian who has seen its full value is Brewer in his 'History of the Reign of Henry VIII.'

 HALL, ELISHA (fl. 1562), fanatic, was an impostor who professed to have revelations and to write books by direct inspiration. On his appearance in London he was brought before Grindal, bishop of London, on 12 June 1562 for examination. He asserted that in 1551 he heard a voice say 'Ely, arise, watch and pray; for the day draweth nigh,' and that in April 1552 he was absent from earth two days while he saw heaven and hell. He was bidden to watch and pray for seven years, and then to write for three years and a half, during two years and a half of which he should 'bring nothing to pass,' while at the end of the last year he was to 'be troubled and fall into persecution.' He affirmed that he had during the last year been examined several times before commissioners, and that unless he should have a fresh revelation his commission would cease in a few weeks. He made no claim to being a religious teacher, and affirmed that the 'Great Book' he had written was a work of inspiration, as he had not 'read much' of the Bible, or consulted with any one. His revelation commanded him neither to eat fish nor flesh, to forsake everything pleasant, and to write his book on his knees. As his examination did not reveal that he held dangerously heterodox opinions, or that he endeavoured to propagate heresy, he does not appear to have been further proceeded against nor to have published his 'Great Book.'

According to Tanner, Hall wrote: 1. 'Of Obedience.' 2. A book of 'Visions' in Metre. Tanner says that a manuscript of the latter belonged to Sir John Parker.

 HALL, FRANCIS RUSSELL (1788–1866), theological writer, son of the Rev. Samuel Hall, incumbent of St. Peter's, Manchester, was born on 17 May 1788. He was educated at the Manchester grammar school and at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he was elected a fellow. He graduated B.A. in 1810, M.A. in 1813, B.D. in 1820, and D.D. in 1839, and held the rectory of Fulbourn, near Cambridge, from 1826 until his death on 18 Nov. 1866. He wrote: 1. 'Reasons for not contributing to circulate the Apocrypha,' &c, 1825, 8vo. 2. 'Regeneration and Baptism considered,' 1832, 8vo. 3. 'A Letter. . . on the present Corrupt State of the University of Cambridge,' 1834. 4. 'Hints to Young Clergymen,' 1843. He also wrote occasional poetical pieces, and compiled a hymn-book.

 HALL, GEORGE (1612?–1668), bishop of Chester, born in 1612 or 1613, at Waltham Abbey, Essex, was the son of Joseph Hall [q. v.], successively bishop of Exeter and Norwich. He matriculated as a commoner at Exeter College, Oxford, in 1628, took the B.A. degree on 30 April 1631, was elected, fellow on 30 June 1632, and proceeded M.A. on 17 Jan. 1633–4 (College Register, ed. C. W. Boase). On 8 Oct. 1637 he was inducted to the vicarage of Menheniot, Cornwall, became prebendary of Exeter on 23 Dec. 1639, and archdeacon of Cornwall on 7 Oct. 1641, in succession to his brother Robert. Though deprived of these preferments by the parliament, he was ultimately allowed to accept the lectureship of St. Bartholomew, Exchange, and by 1655 was minister at St. Botolph, Aldersgate. After the Restoration he became a royal chaplain, canon of Windsor on 8 (18) July 1660, and archdeacon of Canterbury four days later (Cal. State Papers, Dom. June 1660, pp. 83, 86, 229). On 2 Aug. of the