ed at Henry's court, and
much read by that promising young Prince. He preached with success,
for the Prince desired to hear him a second time, and was so well
pleased with him, that he signified an inclination of having him
attend about his court. Mr. Hall's reputation growing, he was taken
notice of by persons of fashion, and soon obtained the living of
Waltham, presented him by the Earl of Norwich.

While he exercised his function at Waltham, the archdeacon of
Norwich engaged him to interest himself in favour of the church of
Wolverhampton, from which a patrimony was detained by a sacrilegious
conveyance. In the course of this prosecution, our author observes,
"that a marvellous light opened itself unexpectedly, by revealing a
counterfeit seal, in the manifestation of razures, and interpolations,
and misdates of unjustifiable evidences, that after many years suit,
Lord Chancellor Ellesmere, upon a full hearing, gave a decree in
favour of the church."

During Mr. Hall's residence at Waltham, he was thrice employed by his
Majesty in public service. His first public employment was to attend
the Earl of Carlisle, who went on an embassy to France, and during his
absence his Majesty conferred upon him the deanery of Worcester. Upon
his return, he attended the King in a journey to Scotland, where
he exerted himself in support of episcopacy, in opposition to the
established ministry there, who were Presbyterians. Having acquired
some name in polemical divinity, and being long accustomed to
disputations, the King made choice of him to go to the Netherlands,
and assist at the synod of Dort, in settling the controverted points
of faith, for which that reverend body were there convened. Hall has
been very lavish in his own praise, while he acted at the synod of
Dort; he has given many hints of the supernatural assistance he was
blessed with: he has informed us, that he was then in a languishing
state of health; that his rest was broken, and his nights sleepless;
but on the night preceding the occasion of his preaching a Latin
sermon to the synod, he was favoured with, refreshing sleep, which he
ascribes to the immediate care of providence. The states of Holland,
he says, "sent Daniel Heinsius the poet to visit him, and were so much
delighted with his comportment, that they presented him with a
rich medal of gold, as a monument of their respect for his poor
endeavours." Upon our author's returning home, he found the church
torn