Nathaniel Conopius

a Cretan born, trained up in the Greek Church and became Primore to Cyrill Patriarch of Constantinople, who for his religious life and conversation had a respect for him. When the said Cyrill was strangled by the Visier, (the Grand Signior of the Turks being not then returned from the Siege of Babylon) Conopius to avoid the like barbarity fled thence and went into England, and addressing himself with credentials from the English Agent at Constantinople to Dr. Laud Archb. of Cant, that worthy person sent him to Balliol Coll, and allowed him a comfortable subsistance during his abode there. Afterwards he became one of the Chaplains or Petty Canons of Ch. Church, but whether he took a degree in this University, I know not. In the beginning of Nov. 1648 he was expelled the University by the Barbarians, I mean the Parliamentarian Visitors, and had nothing left to maintain him as a Scholar and Divine. So that because of the barbarity of such who called themselves Saints, he returned into his own Country among the Barbarians and was made Bishop of Smyrna commonly called Le Smerne, Clar. 1651. about the year 1651. While he was in Oxon, he had a book of Musick laying by him, which as he ((i))((i)) See in Balliofergus or a Commentary upon the foundation, &c. of Ball. Coll. &c. Oxon. 1668. p. 121. said was of his own composition: And being well skill’d in that faculty, his Country [•] men in their Letters sent to, stil’d, him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ; but the notes were such, as are not in use with, or understood by any of, the Western Churches. When he died, or what he wrot after he had left England I know not. It was observed that while he continued in Ball. Coll. he made the drink for his own use called Coffey and usually drank it every morning, being the first, as the Antients of that House have informed me, that was ever drank in Oxon. You may see more of this Conopius in the Epistles of Ger. Joh. Vossius written to learned men, lately published, part 2. p. 145.