Hare belonged to an old Suffolk family, which in the sixteenth century acquired ‘extensive tracts of bleak fenland’ and ex-monastic estates around Stow Bardolph in west Norfolk.
In 1620 Hare’s great-uncle, Hugh Hare†, a bencher of the Inner Temple, died without issue, leaving an enormous fortune to be divided between Hare and his cousin, Hugh, who was later ennobled as an Irish peer.
Throughout his life Hare was an enthusiastic and hard-working local administrator. He served on his first commission (for the preservation of game) at the age of 18, and became a magistrate two years later. An active sewer commissioner and diligent deputy lieutenant, he kept a notebook detailing his activities both on the bench and in the militia.
Hare was elected to his first Parliament in 1625, when he was returned for the Buckinghamshire borough of Aylesbury. His connection with Aylesbury is unknown, nor did he play any recorded part in the Commons. In 1626 he was elected for the Worcestershire borough of Evesham, presumably on the interest of his father-in-law, the lord keeper, Sir Thomas Coventry, whose main residence at Croome d’Abitot was about 10 miles from Evesham. This time Hare was appointed to two committees, both of which concerned Norfolk. The first measure related to the estates of Sir Henry Clere (4 May), while the second (6 May) dealt with Feltwell manor, which lay only 10 miles from Stow.
It was not until 1628 that Hare came in for a Norfolk seat. He was chosen at King’s Lynn, a borough which he often visited in his capacity as a sewer commissioner and deputy-lieutenant. Moreover, his residence at Stow Bardolph was only seven miles south of the town. The corporation perhaps considered that the son-in-law of the lord keeper would be well placed to safeguard their interests, and in the following year Hare received a hogshead of ‘good sack’.
Sir, this Parliament produces as yet nothing, save only the privilege of the subjects by raising of loans by commission, and imprisoning their persons for not lending the same. This has taken up the whole dispute hitherto, and as yet is not resolved of by the House. We have all need to pray for the happy success of this Parliament and, to that end and others of state, we have petitioned a day for fasting and prayer, which is granted so by the king.
Hare also enclosed a book listing the names of all the Commons’ Members and explained that a petition sent by Gawdy’s neighbour had not been approved by lord keeper Coventry, though Hare himself had signed it.
On 20 Dec. 1635 Hare drafted his will, in which he named his father-in-law, Lord Coventry, as his executor. Most of his estate was to descend to his eldest son, Ralph, who was still a minor, but his five younger sons were all settled with manors of their own and marriage portions amounting to £17,200 were provided for his seven daughters. Hare requested that Coventry hold the wardships of his children until Ralph had attained his majority. Gold rings worth £2 each were given to many people, including Sir Roger Townshend*, Sir Hamon L’Estrange*, Sir Henry Spelman*, Sir Robert Bell*, Sir Henry Bedingfield*, (Sir) Edmund Moundeford*, Lord Montagu, William Doughty* and Thomas Gurlyn*. Hare ordered that every year the accounts of the estate, once certified as accurate, were to be kept in the Norwich corporation’s safe, for which favour the city was to receive a gilt cup worth £20. Hare then concluded his will: ‘I shut up my worldly business giving thanks to God for the large measure of his bounty bestowed upon me in this life’.