Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Molyns, John
MOLYNS, JOHN (d. 1591), divine, born in Somerset, was made probationary fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, 1541, and proceeded B.A. 1541, M.A. 1545, D.D. 1565-6. In Queen Mary's reign he left for Zurich, after Bishop Gardiner's visitation of his college, and at Frankfort was reader in Greek to the exiled English. He returned to England in Elizabeth's reign, and was appointed in 1559 canon of St. Paul's and archdeacon of London. In February 1561 he was collated to the rectory of Theydon Gernon, Essex, and in May 1577 to the rectory of Bocking, Essex. He was made dean of Bocking in October 1583, along with Dr. Still. He died in June 1591, and was buried in the north aisle of St. Paul's Cathedral. By his will he left 200l. to purchase lands to endow an exhibition for two scholars at Magdalen College. He is said to have published several books and sermons, but there is extant only 'Carmina Latina et Graeca in Mortem duorum fratrum Suffolciensium, Henrici et Caroli Brandon,' 1552, 4to.
[Strype's Works, passim, vide Index, sub ‘Mullings;’ Wood's Athenæ Oxon. ed. Bliss, i. 581, ii. 8, 34; Tanner's Bibliotheca, p. 530; Register of the University of Oxford (Boase), i. 200; Newcourt's Repertorium, i. 63, 171, 309, 687, ii. 68–9, 584; Dugdale's Hist. of St. Paul's, p. 105.]