(Philip), an English nonconformist, a native of Sussex, descended of a genteel family there, was born about 1596. After a proper foundation at the grammar-school, he was sent to Oxford and entered a commoner of Brazen-Nose college in 1615, whence he removed in a little time to Magdalen-hall, under a puritanical tutor. He took the degrees in arts in 1619 and 1622, about which time he entered into holy orders, and was, some time in 1620, curate of St Michael's church in Southwark, London. Resolving, however, to reject the constitution of the church of England, he became obnoxious to all the censures of the episcopal court; so avowedly which he went, with others of his persuasion, to Holland, in 1633. He continued for the most part at Arnheim, in Guelderland, till 1640; when, the power of the parliament beginning to prevail over the king, he returned home, and was soon after made minister of Kimbolton in Huntingdonshire, by Edward Lord Kimbolton then earl of Manchester. In 1643, he was appointed one of the assembly assembly of divines, and became a great champion of the Presbyterians, and a zealous adherent of the solemn league and covenant; and, having married the daughter of Stephen Marshall, was sent with his father-in-law into Scotland the same year, to expedite the taking of their covenant. Accordingly, he harangued that people, in some speeches on the occasion; in which he told them, among other things, that they were entered into such a covenant and league as would never be forgotten by them and their posterity, and both would have occasion to remember it with joy; that it was such an oath, for matter, persons, and other circumstances, that the like had not been in any age, sufficiently warranted both by human and divine story: for, as God did swear for the salvation of men and kingdoms, so kingdoms must now swear for the preservation and salvation of kingdoms, to establish a Saviour Jesus Christ in England, &c. After his return, both houses of parliament took the covenant the same year; at which time he preached a sermon in defence of it, showing its warrant from scripture, and was rewarded for his good service with the rectory of Acton near London, in the room of Dr Daniel Featley, who was ejected from it. Not long after, however, Nye began to dislike the proceedings of the said assembly of divines, and dissented from them, opposing the discipline intended to be settled by them; and, cloathing with the Independents when they became the reigning faction, he paid his court to the grandees of the army, who often made use of his counsel. In December 1647 he was sent by them, with Stephen Marshall, to the king at Carisbrooke-castle, in the isle of Wight, in attendance upon the commissioners then appointed to carry the four dethroning votes, as they are now called, viz. 1. To acknowledge the war raised against him to be just; 2. To abolish episcopacy; 3. To settle the power of the militia in persons nominated by the two houses; 4. To sacrifice all those that had adhered to him; for which service they were rewarded with no less than 500l. a piece. Nye was also employed about that time by the same matters to get subscriptions from the apprentices in London, &c. against a personal treaty with the king, while the citizens of that metropolis were petitioning for one. April the next year, he was employed, as well as Marshall and Joseph Caryl, by the Independents, to invite the secured and secluded members to sit in the house again, but without success. In 1653 he was appointed one of the triers for the approbation of public preachers; in which office he not only procured his son to be clerk, but, with the affluence of his father-in-law, obtained for himself a living of 400l. a-year. In 1654, he was joined with Dr Lazarus Scaman Samuel Clark, Richard Vines, Obadiah Sedgwick, Joseph Caryl, &c. as an assistant to the commissioners appointed by parliament to eject such as were then called scandalous and ignorant ministers and schoolmasters in the city of London. After Charles II's restoration in 1660, it was debated by the healing parliament, for several hours together, whether he and John Goodwin should be excepted for life; but the result was, that if Philip Nye, clerk, should after the 1st of September, in the same year 1660, accept or exercise any office, ecclesiastical, civil, or military, he should, to all intents and purposes in law, stand as if he had been totally excepted for life. November 1662 he was vehemently suspected to be engaged in Tongue's plot; but the suspicion was never proved. He died in the parish of St Michael's, Cornhill, London, in Sept. 27, 1672, and was buried in the upper vault of the said church. Wood says he was a dangerous and seditious person, a politic pulpit-driver of independency, an insatiable curioust after riches, and what not, to raise a family, and to heap up wealth.