Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sorocold, Thomas
SOROCOLD, THOMAS (1561–1617), divine, born at Manchester in 1561, and educated at the local grammar school, became a batler or student of Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1578, and matriculated on 18 July 1580. He graduated B.A. on 6 Feb. 1582–3, and M.A. on 8 July 1585, and after his ordination became a popular puritan preacher in his native county. In July 1587 he preached in the private chapel of Lord Derby at Lathom House. He was admitted to the rectory of St. Mildred's, Poultry, London, on 22 Oct. 1590, on the presentation of Queen Elizabeth. Sorocold was buried at St. Mildred's on 12 Dec. 1617. He was licensed on 4 Aug. 1592 to marry Susan, daughter of Robert Smith of Sherehog, London; she died in March 1604–5.
Sorocold's ‘Supplications of Saints: A Booke of Praiers and Prayses,’ apparently first published in 1608 (Arber, Stationers' Register, iii. 390), was long popular; at least forty-five editions were published up to 1754. Hearne relates that he remembered a very pious lady who used to give away great numbers yearly to the poor. Dean Hook published a selection from it in his ‘Devotional Library’ (1842).
[Bailey's Memoir in Notes and Queries, 31 July 1886, and Manchester City News, 18 Sept. 1887; Wood's Athenæ Oxon. i. 635; Newcourt's Repertorium, 1708, i. 502; Stanley Papers (Chetham Soc.), ii. 32, 142; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714, iv. 1390; Aston's Manchester Guide, 1804, p. 28; Grosart's Spending of the Money of Robert Nowell, 1877, pp. 170–171; Hazlitt's Collections and Notes, i. 394, ii. 570; Milbourn's Hist. of St. Mildred's, Poultry; Hunter's Oliver Heywood, p. 5; Davies's York Press, p. 357; Liturgies of Queen Elizabeth (Parker Soc.) pp. 622, 666.]