William Habington
Encyclopedia
William Habington was an English poet.
He was born at Hindlip Hall
, Worcestershire, and belonged to a well-known Catholic family. His father, Sir Thomas Habington, an antiquary and historical scholar, had been implicated in the plots on behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots; his uncle, Sir Edward Habington, was beheaded in 1586 on the charge of conspiring against Elizabeth I
in connection with Sir Anthony Babington
; while to his mother, Mary Habington, was attributed the revelation of the Gunpowder Plot
.
The poet received his education in Paris
and Saint-Omer. The information given by Anthony à Wood in his Athenae that Habington returned to England "to escape the importunity of the Jesuits to join their order" rests only on a vague statement made by the ex-Catholic James Wadsworth in his English Spanish Pilgrim. He married about 1632 Lucy, second daughter of Sir William Herbert, 1st Baron Powis
. This lady he had addressed in the volume of lyrical poems arranged in two parts and entitled Castara, published anonymously in 1634. In 1635 appeared a second edition enlarged by three prose characters, fourteen new lyrics and eight touching elegies on his friend and kinsman, George Talbot, 9th Earl of Shrewsbury
. The third edition (1640) contains a third part consisting of a prose character of A Holy Man and twenty-two devotional poems.
He also wrote a tragi-comedy, The Queen of Arragon (1640), published without his consent by his kinsman, the Earl of Pembroke, and revived at the Restoration
; and six essays on events in modern history, Observations upon History (1641).
He was born at Hindlip Hall
Hindlip Hall
Hindlip Hall is in Worcestershire. The first major hall was built before 1575. It played a significant role in both the Babington and the Gunpowder plots . It was Humphrey Littleton who told the authorities that Edward Oldcorne was hiding here after he had been heard saying Mass at Hindlip Hall...
, Worcestershire, and belonged to a well-known Catholic family. His father, Sir Thomas Habington, an antiquary and historical scholar, had been implicated in the plots on behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots; his uncle, Sir Edward Habington, was beheaded in 1586 on the charge of conspiring against Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
in connection with Sir Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington
Anthony Babington was convicted of plotting the assassination of Elizabeth I of England and conspiring with the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots...
; while to his mother, Mary Habington, was attributed the revelation of the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
.
The poet received his education in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Saint-Omer. The information given by Anthony à Wood in his Athenae that Habington returned to England "to escape the importunity of the Jesuits to join their order" rests only on a vague statement made by the ex-Catholic James Wadsworth in his English Spanish Pilgrim. He married about 1632 Lucy, second daughter of Sir William Herbert, 1st Baron Powis
William Herbert, 1st Baron Powis
William Herbert, 1st Baron Powis was a British nobleman.He was born in Powis Castle, the son of Sir Edward Herbert and Mary Stanley, daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley, Under-Treasurer of the Royal Mint...
. This lady he had addressed in the volume of lyrical poems arranged in two parts and entitled Castara, published anonymously in 1634. In 1635 appeared a second edition enlarged by three prose characters, fourteen new lyrics and eight touching elegies on his friend and kinsman, George Talbot, 9th Earl of Shrewsbury
George Talbot, 9th Earl of Shrewsbury
George Talbot, 9th Earl of Shrewsbury, 9th Earl of Waterford was the son of Sir John Talbot of Grafton in Worcestershire, a prominent Roman Catholic priest....
. The third edition (1640) contains a third part consisting of a prose character of A Holy Man and twenty-two devotional poems.
He also wrote a tragi-comedy, The Queen of Arragon (1640), published without his consent by his kinsman, the Earl of Pembroke, and revived at the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
; and six essays on events in modern history, Observations upon History (1641).