A convinced astrologer, Wing edited in 1660 the Defence of the Divine Art of Natural Astrologie which had been sent to him by his late friend George Atwell (c.1576–1658), Surveyor, and 'Professor of the Mathematicks' at the University of Cambridge,'Professor' perhaps meaning only, Teacher. Atwell is called Cantab. de studio et practici mathematicis non-ignobilis, his life-dates known from his gravestone at North Runcton, Norfolk: see Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses Part I, From the Earliest Times to 1751, Vol. 1 (Cambridge, University Press 1922), p. 55, citing John le Neve, Monumenta Anglicana (1717), Vol. V, p. 48. to which he wrote an informative preface.George Atwel, AN APOLOGY, Or, Defence of the Divine Art of Natural Astrologie. Being an answer to a Sermon preached in Cambridge, July 25, 1652, Wherein all the Chief Objections against Astrology are fully Answered (etc); Written by the Learned and Ingenious Mathematician, Mr. GEORGE ATWEL, late Professor of the Mathematicks in the University of Cambridg; and now published by a Friend, for the publike benefit of his native Countrymen of England. VVhose Preface is hereunto annexed. (London, Printed for Samuel Speed, at the sign of the Printing-press in Paul's Churchyard. Anno 1660.) Read here. Wing remarks, "The stars incline the will (saith Scotus) yet in no wise necessitate it, notwithstanding it often hapneth that Astrologers fore-tel truths concerning the manners of men, by reason of their proneness to follow their sensitive appetite." Atwell was the author of a work on Surveying explaining the accurate use of the measuring chain, which by 1665 had run into a third, enlarged (London) edition.The Faithfull Surveyour (Cambridge, 1658); The faithful surveyor : teaching how to measure all manner of ground exactly, by the chain onely: also, thereby to take distances of a mile space, and the situation of any building. Shewing likewise the making and use of a new instrument, called a pandoron; which supplies the use of the plain-table, theodelite, quadrant, quadrat, circumferentor, and any other observing instrument. As also divers secrets for conveying and clensing of water, flowing and draining of grounds, quenching houses on fire, &c. With an appendix unfolding errours in board and timber-measure: with directions for making a carpenters rule. By George Atwell late teacher of the mathematicks in Cambridge. (London, sold by Ralph Needham at the Bell in Little Britain 1665).
