Nathaniel Carpenter

, Son of Joh. Carp. mentioned under the year 1620. was born at Northleigh near to Culleton in Devonshere 7. Feb. 1588. elected Probationer Fellow of Exeter coll. from S. Edmonds hall, 1607. at which time Michael Jermyn of the said coll, standing against him for that place, had equal Votes with him. So that the matter being referr’d to the Vicehancellour, he adjudged the right of the said Fellowship for Carpenter, and the next year Jermyn was sped into C. C. coll. of whom I shall speak hereafter under the year 1659. As for Carpenter he afterwards took the degrees in Arts and by a vertuous emulation and industry he became a noted Philosopher, Poet, Mathematician and Geographer. About the time that he proceeded in Arts, he entred into the sacred function, took the degree of Bach. of Divinity in few years after, and tho a zealous Calvinist, yet he was by the generallity of Scholars cried up for a very famous Preacher. At length being introduced into the acquaintance of the learned and religious Dr. Vsher Primate of Ireland, at what time he was in Oxon and incorporated D. of D. in July 1626. that incomparable person took him then into his service, convey’d him into Ireland, made him one of his Chaplains, Schoolmaster of the Kings Wards in Dublin, in the same year, and soon after, as ’tis said, Dean of a certain Church there, but Quaere. He hath written,

Philosophia libera, triplici Exercitationum decade proposita, &c. Francof. 1621. Lond. 1622. Ox. 1636. and 75. oct.

Geography delineated forth in two books; containing the Sphaerical and Topical parts thereof. Ox. 1625. and 35. qu.

Achitophel: or, the picture of a wicked Politician, in 3 parts. Dubl. 1627. oct. Ox. 1628. qu. These three parts are the effect of three Sermons preached before the Univ. of Oxon, on 2 Sam. 17. 23. and were very much applauded by all the Scholars that heard them, and therefore were by them most eagerly desired to be printed. Soon after they were published with license, and had in them (as a busie (a)(a) Will. Prynne in his Canterburies Deom, printed 1646. p. 166. body saith) divers passages against Arminianism, averring it to be planted among us by Jesuitical Politicians to undermine our Religion by degrees, and covertly to introduce Popery it self. But so soon as it peep’d abroad, it was forthwith called in, and all the passages against Arminianism were expunged by Bishops Lauds Agents. Which done, it was reprinted at London 1629. in qu. to the great injury both of the truth and author. In 1633. it was printed there again, and at Ox. 1640. in tw.

Chorazin and Bethsaida’s woe and warning piece, on Matth. 11. 21. Oxon. 1640. in tw.

Treatise of Opticks.—MS. The original whereof was lost at Sea; yet some copies of it are saved, but imperfect. He died at Dublin in Ireland, about the beginning of the year sixteen hundred twenty and eight, 1628 and was buried there, but in what Church or Yard I know not. When he laid upon his death-bed, it did much repent him, that he had formerly so much courted the Maid instead of the Mistress, meaning that he had spent his chief time in Philosophy and Mathematicks, and had neglected Divinity.