Edward Hall

Background

He was born about the end of the 15th century, being a son of John Hall of Northall, Shropshire.

Education

Educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge, he became a barrister and afterwards filled the offices of common sergeant of the city of London and judge of the sheriff's court.

Career

In 1809 an edition was published under the supervision of Sir Henry Ellis, and in 1904 the part dealing with the reign of Henry VIII was edited by C. Whibley.

The Chronicle begins with the accession of Henry IV to the English throne in 1399; it follows the strife between the houses of Lancaster and York, and with Grafton's continuation carries the story down to the death of Henry VIII in 1547.

For all kinds of ceremonial he has all a lawyer's respect, and his pages are often adorned and encumbered with the pageantry and material garniture of the story.

The value of the Chronicle in its early stages is not great, but this increases when dealing with the reign of Henry VII and is very considerable for the reign of Henry VIII.

Moreover, the work is not only valuable, it is attractive.

To the historian it furnishes what is evidently the testimony of an eye-witness on several matters of importance which are neglected by other narrators; and to the student of literature it has the exceptional interest of being one of the prime sources of Shakespeare's historical plays.

Achievements

• Hall's great work, The Union of the Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre and York, commonly called Hall's Chronicle, was first published in 1542.
  
  Hall published posthumously in 1548 his Union of the Two Noble and Illustre Famelies of Lancastre and Yorke, tracing royal history from Henry IV to Henry VIII.
  
  He was a keen spokesman for the Tudors, whom he saw as restorers of order after decades of anarchy, greatly admired Henry VIII, disliked Wolsey and the clergy, and supported the Reformation.
  
  He was made common serjeant of London in 1533 and under-sheriff from 1535.

Connections

There is no evidence as to whether Hall ever married.

Father:

John Hall

Mother:

Katherine Geddyng

Brother:

William Hall

Great-grandfather:

William Geddyng

Grandfather:

Thomas Geddyng