Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Toy, John
TOY, JOHN (1611–1663), author, son of John Toy of Worcester, was born in that city in 1611. He matriculated from Pembroke College, Oxford, on 23 May 1628, graduating B.A. on 27 Jan. 1630–1 and M.A. on 2 July 1634. After filling the office of chaplain to the bishop of Hereford, he became headmaster of the free school at Worcester, whence he was transferred about 1643 to the king's school. On 22 Oct. 1641 he was presented to the vicarage of Stoke Prior, Worcestershire. These two offices he retained until his death on 28 Dec. 1663. He was buried in the cathedral of Worcester. His wife, Martha Toy, survived him, dying on 10 April 1677.
He wrote:
- 'Worcesters Elegie and Eulogie,' London, 1638, 8vo: a poem describing the plague which assailed the city in 1637–8, and commemorating those who assisted the inhabitants in their distress; it was dedicated to Thomas Coventry, with commendatory verses in Latin by William Rowlands [q. v.], and others in English signed 'T. N.'
- 'Quisquiliæ Poeticæ, Tyrunculis in re metrica non inutiles,' London, 1662, 12mo: dedicated to John Persehouse. Wood conjectures that he may also be the author of 'Grammatices Græcæ Enchiridion in Usum Scholæ Collegialis Wigorniæ' (London, 1650, 8vo).
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed Bliss, iii. 649; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714; Nash's Hist. and Antiq. of Worcestershire, ii. 381, 382; Chambers's Biogr. Illustrations of Worcestershire, 1820, p. 163; Hunter's Chorus Vatum in Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 24489, f. 188.]