Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Torshell, Samuel

by Edward Irving Carlyle

TORSHELL or TORSHEL, SAMUEL (1604–1650), puritan divine, was probably identical with Samuel Torshell, born on 4 July 1604, the son of Richard Torshell, a London merchant taylor, who entered Merchant Taylors' school in 1617 (Robinson, Merchant Taylors' School Reg. i. 92). According to Richard Smyth, his mother was a midwife. Cole conjectures that he studied at Cambridge University (Brit. Mus. Addit. MS. 5882, f. 62). Torshell seems first to have preached in London, but before 1632 he was appointed by the Haberdashers' Company rector of Bunbury in Cheshire. Though always inclined to puritan views, he states that he was finally convinced of the inexpediency of episcopacy when he 'met with Mr. White's learned and serious speech against it in parliament.' When the custody of the two youngest children of Charles I was committed to Algernon Percy, tenth earl of Northumberland [q. v.], on 18 March 1643–4, Torshell was appointed their tutor. He afterwards became preacher at Cripplegate, London, and died on 22 March 1649–50.

He was author of: 1. ‘The Three Questions of Free Justification, Christian Liberty, the Use of the Law, explicated in a briefe Comment on St. Paul to the Galatians,’ London, 1632, 12mo. 2. ‘The Saints Humiliation,’ London, 1633, 4to. 3. ‘A Helpe to Christian Fellowship,’ London, 1644, 4to. 4. ‘The Hypocrite discovered and cured,’ London, 1644, 4to. 5. ‘The Womans Glorie: a Treatise asserting the due Honour of that Sexe. Dedicated to the young Princesse Elizabethe her Highenesse,’ London, 1645, 12mo; 2nd ed. 1650. 6. ‘The Palace of Justice opened and set to Veiw’ [sic], London, 1646, 4to. 7. ‘A Designe about disponing the Bible into an Harmony,’ London, 1647, 4to; reprinted in the ‘Phenix,’ 1707, i. 96–113. Torshell also published ‘A learned and very usefull Commentary upon the whole Prophesie of Malachy, by Richard Stock. Whereunto is added an Exercitation upon the same Prophesie of Malachy, by Samuel Torshell,’ London, 1641, 12mo; reprinted by Dr. A. B. Grosart.

[Smyth's Obituary (Camden Soc.), p. 20; Wood's Fasti Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 271; Torshell's Works.]

E. I. C.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.267
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page	Col.	Line
71	i	18-16 f.e.	Torshell, Samuel: for Cole conjectures . . . . 5882, f. 62). read He matriculated from Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1620-1, graduating B.A. in 1624-5 and M.A. in 1628.
		15 f.e.	⁠for in London, read in London. He was curate of St. Bartholomew by the Exchange in February 1628-9 (Hennessy, p. 280)