ding at Florence, where he renounced Lutheranism for Catholicism;
made valuable geological investigations, but finally gave himself up to a
religious life; was created a bishop, and in 1677 Vicar-Apostolic of
North Germany; chiefly remembered for his contributions to anatomical
science (1638-1687).

STENTOR, a Grecian herald who accompanied the Greeks in the Trojan
War, and whom Homer describes as "the great-hearted, brazen-voiced
Stentor, whose shout was as loud as that of fifty other men," hence the
epithet stentorian.

STEPHEN, king of England from 1135 to 1154, nephew of Henry I., his
mother being Adela, daughter of William I.; acquired French possessions
through the favour of his uncle and by his marriage; in 1127 swore fealty
to his cousin Matilda, daughter of Henry I., as his future sovereign, but
on the death of his uncle usurped the throne, an action leading to a
violent civil war, which brought the country into a state of anarchy; the
Scots invaded on behalf of Matilda, but were beaten back at Northallerton
(the Battle of the Standard, 1138); foreign mercenaries introduced by the
king only served to embitter the struggle; the clergy, despoiled by the
king, turned against him, and in the absence of a strong central
authority the barons oppressed the people and fought with one another;
"Adulterine Castles" sprang up over the country, and "men said openly
that Christ and His saints were asleep"; in 1141 Matilda won the battle
of Lincoln and for a few months ruled the country, but "as much too harsh
as Stephen was too lenient," she rapidly became unpopular, and Stephen
was soon again in the ascendant; the successes of Henry, son of Matilda,
led in 1153 to the treaty of Wallingford, by which it was arranged that
Stephen should retain the crown for life, while Henry should be his heir;
both joined in suppressing the turbulent barons and the "Adulterine
Castles"; more fortunately circumstanced, Stephen had many qualities
which might have made him a popular and successful king (1105-1154).

STEPHEN, the name of nine popes; S. I., Pope from 253 to 257,
signalised by his zeal against the heresies of his time; S. II.,
Pope from 752 to 757, in whose reign, under favour of Pepin le Bref,
began the temporal power of the Popes; S. III., Pope from 768 to
772, sanctioned the worship of saints and images; S. IV., Pope from
816 to 817; S. V., Pope from 885 to 891, distinguished for his
charity; S. VI., Pope from 896 to 8