Stephens, Jeremy

, a learned English divine, the son of Walter Stephens, vector of Bishops Castle in Shropshire, was born therein 1592, and was entered of Brasenose college, Oxford, in 1609. Having completed his degrees in arts in 161 i, he was ordained deacon, and was appointed chaplain of All Souls college. In May 1616, he was admitted to priest’s orders, and in 1621 was presented to the rectory of Quinton in Northamptonshire, and in 1626 to that of Wotton adjoining, both by Charles I. In 1641 he was made prebendary of Biggleswade in the church of Lincoln, by the interest of archbishop Laud, as a reward for the assi>tance he gave sir Henry Spelman in the first volume of his edition of the “Councils;” but in 1644 he was deprived of all his preferments, and imprisoned by the usurping powers. At the restoration he was replaced in his former livings, and had also a prebend in the church of Salisbury. He died Jan. 9, 1665, at Wotton, and was buried in the chancel of that church.

He published, 1. “Notae in D. Cyprian, de imitate Ecclesiae,” London, 1632, 8vo. 2. “Notre in D. Cyprian, de bono patiemise,” ibid. 1633, 8vo, both, as Wood says, collated with ancient manuscripts by some of the Oxford divines. 3. “Apology fur the ancient right and power of the Bishops to sit and vote in parliaments,” ibid. 1660. 4. | “B. Gregorii magni, episcopi Romani, de cura pastovali liber vere aureus, accurate emendatus et restitutus e vet. Mss cum Romana editione collatis,” ibid. 1621', 8vo. He was also the editor of Spelman’s work on “Tithes,” and his apology lor the treatise “De non temerandis ecclesiis;” and had prepared some small pieces on the controversies arising from the usurpation, the publication of which was rendered unnecessary by the return of Charles II. ¹