Thomas Marshall

, or Mareschallus, as in his Observ. in Evang. he writes himself, son of a father of both his names, was born at Barkbey in Leicestershire, educated there in Grammar learning under Francis Foe Vicar of that Town, entred a Batler in Linc. Coll. in Mich. terme an. 1640, aged 19 years, and on the 31. of July in the year following he was elected one of Rob. Trapps Scholars in that House: much about which time he being a constant auditor of the Sermons of the most learned and religious Primate of Ireland Dr. Usher, delivered in Allhallowes Church joyning to his Coll, his affections were so exceedingly wrought upon, that he was alwaies resolv’d from thence forth to make him the pattern of all the religious and learned actions of his life, and therefore ever after he could not endure those that should in their common discourse or writings reflect in the least on that sacred Prelate. Soon after Oxford, being garrison’d upon the breaking out of the rebellion, he bore Arms therein for his Majesty, in the Regiment of Henry Earl of Dover, at his own proper cost and charges, and therefore in 1645 when he was a Candidate for the degree of Bach. of Arts, he was admitted thereunto without paying fees. But upon the approach of the Parliamentary Visitation he left the University, went beyond the Seas, and became Preacher to the Company of English Merchants at Roterdam and Dort, in the place of Henry Tozer deceased. In 1661 he was admitted Bach. of Div, and four years after publishing observations on the Evangelists, did thereby revive his memory so much in his Coll. that the Society chose him fellow thereof without his knowledge or seeking, 17. Dec. 1668. In the year following he proceeded in his faculty, was elected Rector of his Coll. an. 1672, upon the promotion of Dr. Crew to the See of Oxon, and afterwards was made Chaplain in Ord. to his Majesty. In the month of May an. 1680 he became Rector of Bladon near Woodstock in Oxfordshire, and upon the promotion of Dr. Frampton to the See of Glocester, he was nominated Dean of that Church in Jan. 1680; in which Deanery being installed on the 30. of Apr. 1681. he gave up Bladon in Feb. 1682. He was a person very well vers’d in books, was a noted Critick, especially in the Gothick and English Saxon tongues, a painful preacher, a good man and governour, and one every way worthy of his station in the Church. He hath written,

Observationes in Evangeliorum versiones perantiquas duas, Gothica scil. & Anglo-saxonica, &c. Dordrecht. 1665. in a thick large quarto.

The Catechisme set forth in the book of Common-prayer, briefly explained by short notes, grounded upon holy Scripture. Oxon. 1679. oct. and several times after. The said short notes were drawn up and composed by our author upon the desire and motion of Dr. John Fell Bish. of Oxon, to be used by the Ministers of his Diocess in the catechising of the Children of their respective Parishes. In other editions that followed soon after, was added An Essay of questions and answers framed out of the same notes, for the exercise of youth, by the same hand which Catech. with notes and essay, were translated into Welsh by John Williams a Cambridge Scholar, Tutor to a certain person of quality in Jesus Coll. in this University—Printed at Oxon. 1682. oct. He the said Dr. Marshall did also take a great deal of pains in compleating the large English life of the aforesaid Dr. Usher, (published by Rich. Parr sometimes Fellow of Exeter Coll.) but died before it was published; which hapning suddenly in his lodgings in Linc. Coll. early in the morning of the 19. of Apr. (being then Easter Sunday) in sixteen hundred eighty and five,1685. was buried in that Chancel, commonly called the College Chancel, of the Church of Allhallows alias Allsaints within the City of Oxon. By his last Will and Test. he gave to the publick Library of the Univ. of Oxon, all such of his books, whether Manuscript or printed, that were not then in the said Library, except only such that were in his said will otherwise disposed: And the remaining part to Linc. Coll. Library, I mean such that were not there, at that time, already, &c. Also so much money, which was raised from his estate, that came to 600 l. and more, he gave to the said College; with which was purchased fourteen pounds per an. a fee-farm rent, issuing out of the mannour of Little Dean in Glocestershire, and twelve pounds per an. a rent-charge, out of some Lands in Brill in Bucks. Which benefaction three Scholars of Linc. Coll. do now successively enjoy. In his Deanery succeeded Will. Jane D.D. Can. of Ch. Ch. and the Kings Professor of Div. in this Univ. of Oxon; and in his Rectory of Linc. Coll. Fitzherbert Adams Bach. of Div. and Fellow of the said House, who hath since been a considerable Benefactor thereunto, and may in time be a greater. Besides the said Tho. Marshall, (who was always taken to be an honest and conscientious Puritan) was another of both his names, author of The Kings censure upon Recusants, that refuse the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; delivered in three Serm. Lond. 1654. qu. and of other things.