Nathaniel Torporley

, a Shropshire man born, applied his Muse to Academical learning in Ch. Church, an. 1579. aged 16. about which time he became one of the Students of that house. Afterwards he took the degree of Bach. of Arts, which being compleated by Determination, he left the University, and whether he then travelled beyond the Sea I cannot tell. For that he was in France for two or more years, and was Amanuensis to the celebrated Mathematician Fran. Vieta of Fontenay in the Province of Poictau is notoriously known, but the time when, whether before, or after, he was M. of A. we cannot tell. Sure it is that his Genie being mostly enclined to the Mathematicks and Astronomy, (in which faculties he had obtained in his absence, a sufficicient knowledge) he returned to the University, and entring himself into Brasnose coll: did as a member thereof, take the degree of Master of Arts, an. 1591, being then eight years standing in that of Bachelaur. Afterwards he retired to the great City, and became so famous for his singular knowledge, that being made known to the great Earl of Northumberland, named Henry Piercy, the generous favourer of all good learning, was received into his Patronage, and had a pension paid yearly unto him, for several years from his Purse. About the same time he was made Rector of Salwarp in his native Country, in the place of Tho. Forest deceased, 1608. where residing sometimes, but mostly in Sion coll. in London, (of which he was a Student and a most eminent member) continued in the last, till the time of his death. He hath transmitted to posterity.

Diclides Caelometricae; seu Valvae Astronomicae universales omnia artis totius munera Psephophoretica in sat modicis finibus duarum tabularum methodo nova, generali & facilimâ continentes. Lib. 2. Lond. 1602. qu.

Tabula praemiss [•] is ad declinationes & caeli mediationes. Printed with the former book, in five parts.

Directionis accuratae consummata doctrina, Astrologis hac tenus plurimum desiderata. Written by way of Preface to the two former books. He hath also printed something against Fr. Vieta, under the name of Poulterey, which is Torpurley’s name transpos’d, but that book I have not yet seen; and hath also written,

He took his last farewel of this world in Sion coll. before mention’d, and was buried in the Church of St. Alphage near to that college, on the seventeenth day of Apr. in sixteen hundred thirty and two. 1632 By his nuncupatory (d)(d) In the Will-office near S. Pauls Cath. Ch. in reg. Swan, part 1. Qu. 65. Will, which he spake on the 14. day of the same month, he gave to the use of those that study in the Library of the said coll. all his mathematical books and others, all his Astronomical instruments, notes, mapps and his brass clock. Among the said books, were some few MSS. of which one contained Certain definitions of the Planisphere, made by Walter Warner a most noted Mathematician of his time.