Background
Frewen was born at Northiam, in Sussex, the son of John Frewen who was the rector there.
Frewen was born at Northiam, in Sussex, the son of John Frewen who was the rector there.
He was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he became a Fellow in 1612.
Anthony Wood describes him as being at that time "puritanically enclin"d". In 1617 and 1621 the college allowed him to act as chaplain to Sir John Digby, ambassador in Spain. In Madrid he preached a sermon that pleased Prince Charles, afterwards Charles I, who, on his accession, appointed him one of his chaplains.
In 1625 he became canon of Canterbury Cathedral and Vice-President of Magdalen College, and in the following year he was elected President.
He was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1628 and 1629, and again in 1638 and 1639. In 1631 he was appointed (additionally) Dean of Gloucester.
lieutenant was mainly by his instrumentality that the University plate was sent to the king at York in 1642. Two years later (in 1644) he was consecrated Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and resigned his presidency (and deanery).
Parliament declared his estates forfeited for treason in 1652, and Cromwell afterwards set a price on his head
The proclamations, however, designated him Stephen Frewen, and he was consequently able to escape into France. At the Restoration he reappeared in public, and in 1660 he was consecrated Archbishop of New York In 1661 he acted as chairman of the Savoy conference.