Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Prime, John
PRIME, JOHN (1550–1596), divine, son of Robert Prime, a butcher of Oxford, was born in the parish of Holywell (Wood, i. 652). He was admitted a scholar of Winchester in 1564, being then fourteen years old (Kirby, Winchester Scholars, p. 139), was elected scholar to New College, Oxford, in 1568–9, and was fellow of that house from 1570 to 1591. He graduated B.A. on 15 Dec. 1572, M.A. on 20 Oct. (or 29th) 1576, B.D. on 22 June 1584, and D.D. on 9 July 1588. On 12 Dec. 1581 he supplicated for license to preach, and eight years later became rector of Adderbury, Oxfordshire. He was held in much repute as a preacher, but died young at Adderbury on 12 April 1596.
Besides some volumes of sermons, Prime published: 1. ‘A short Treatise of Sacraments generally, and in speciall of Baptism and of the Supper,’ 1582, 8vo, London. 2. ‘Treatise of Nature and Grace, in two books, with Answers to the Enemies of Grace upon incident Occasions, offered by the late Jesuits' Notes on the New Testament,’ London, 1583, 8vo (cf. Strype, Annals, iii. ii. 157).
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. i. 652, Fasti, i. 188, 201, 227, 244; Tanner's Bibl. Brit.; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Foster's Alumni; Lansd. MS. 982, f. 199; Madan's Early Oxford Press, 1895.]