Francis Babington

Last updated September 30, 2023

Francis Babington D.D. (also Babbington, died 1569) was an English divine and an academic administrator at the University of Oxford. He was elected Master (head) of Balliol College, Oxford on 2 September 1559, a post he held until he resigned the following year on 27 October 1560.^[1] Babington was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University from 1560 to 1562.^[2]^[3] He was also Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, from 1560 until he resigned in 1563.^[4]

Life

Babington is said to have been a native of Leicestershire, to have entered Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1544, and to have taken his B.A. degree in 1548–9. Two years later he was appointed Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, and in 1552 became M.A. ^[5] By 1555 he must have changed his religion, for at that date his name is found appended to the Roman Catholic articles of belief.^[6] About the same time he seems to have transferred his residence to Oxford, where he 'incepted' in arts 1554.^[7] After three years, he was unanimously chosen Proctor of his new university (1557), being already a Fellow of All Souls College. In 1557 and 1558, he successively took his Bachelor's and Doctor's degrees in Divinity; but Wood adds a special warning that such rapid promotion was only because Oxford University was very empty, and wanted "theologists to perform the requisite offices." There were only three doctors in theology who proceeded in six years; and sermons were so rare, that scarce one was given. It is only fair, however, to add that in another passage Wood mentions Francis Babington as renowned for his philosophical and logical disputations.

In 1559, Queen Elizabeth I's visitors removed William Wright from the mastership of Balliol College, Oxford, and appointed Dr Babington instead. Dr Babington had no objection to heaping together a plurality of livings and offices. Between 1557 and 1560, he was rector of at least four parishes: Milton Keynes, Twyford, Sherrington Aldworth, and Adstock; and two or three of these he must have held together. Besides these preferments he was, in May 1560, appointed Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, and was Sir John Mason's commissary or Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1560, 1561, and 1562. He even held the Lady Margaret readership in divinity for 1561, although the statutes forbade its being held by the Vice-Chancellor.

In March 1562, he appears in conjunction with "Anthony Forster, of Cumnore, gent.",^[8] as assisting in forcing a Protestant warden upon the Roman Catholic fellows of Merton College. Wood has given a graphic description of the whole scene.^[9] Dr Babington was the Earl of Leicester's chaplain, and seems about this time to have been high in favour with that nobleman. Anthony à Wood tells us that he was one of Leicester's five most trusted advisers in Oxford, and was chosen to preach Amy Robsart's funeral sermon at St Mary's Church, Oxford, on which occasion he "tript once or twice by recommending to his auditors the virtues of that lady so pitifully murdered instead of so pitifully slain." His text was 'Beati mortui qui in Domino moriuntur' (1560) (Bartlett's Cumnor). In the same year, Dr Babington stood as the representative of the more conservative party for the deanery of Christ Church, Oxford against Dr Sampson, the great pillar of the puritanical body. Strype, in his account of this contest, describes Dr Babington as "a man of mean learning and of a complying temper",^[10] but he failed in his candidature. He seems by this time to have been losing Leicester's favour, and was more than suspected of being a concealed Papist. In 1563, he had to resign the rectorship of Lincoln College, and two years later was forced to flee overseas, where he is said to have died in 1569.

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References

↑ Salter, H. E.; Lobel, Mary D., eds. (1954). "Balliol College". A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 3: The University of Oxford. Victoria County History. pp. 82–95. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
↑ "Previous Vice-Chancellors". University of Oxford, UK. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
↑ University of Oxford (1888). "Vice-Chancellors". The Historical Register of the University of Oxford. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 21–27. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
↑ Salter, H. E.; Lobel, Mary D., eds. (1954). "Lincoln College". A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 3: The University of Oxford. Victoria County History. pp. 163–173. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
↑ "Babington, Francis (BBNN544F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
↑ Lamb, Cambr. Doct. 176
↑ Gutch's WoodApp. 95
↑ Sir W. Scott's Tony Foster.
↑ Annals, anno 1562.
↑ Annals of Refor. i. chap. 43.

Sources

"Babington, Francis" . Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Academic offices
Preceded by William Wright	Master of Balliol College, Oxford 1559–1560	Succeeded by Anthony Garnet
Preceded by John Warner	Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University 1560–1562	Succeeded by Thomas Whyte
Preceded by Henry Henshaw	Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford 1560–1563	Succeeded by John Bridgewater

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[1] Salter, H. E.; Lobel, Mary D., eds. (1954). "Balliol College". A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 3: The University of Oxford. Victoria County History. pp. 82–95. Retrieved 25 July 2011.

[2] "Previous Vice-Chancellors". University of Oxford, UK. Retrieved 25 July 2011.

[3] University of Oxford (1888). "Vice-Chancellors". The Historical Register of the University of Oxford. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 21–27. Retrieved 25 July 2011.

[4] Salter, H. E.; Lobel, Mary D., eds. (1954). "Lincoln College". A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 3: The University of Oxford. Victoria County History. pp. 163–173. Retrieved 25 July 2011.

[5] "Babington, Francis (BBNN544F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.

[6] Lamb, Cambr. Doct. 176

[7] Gutch's WoodApp. 95

[8] Sir W. Scott's Tony Foster.

[9] Annals, anno 1562.

[10] Annals of Refor. i. chap. 43.

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v t e Vice-Chancellors of the University of Oxford
13th century	1230 Elyas de Daneis 1270 Robert Steeton 1288 John Heigham
14th century	1304 John de Oseworhd 1311 Walter Gifford 1325 Richard Kamshale 1333 Richard FitzRalph 1336 John de Ayllesbury 1337 John de Reigham 1347 Hugh de Willoughby 1348 William de Hawkesworth 1367 John de Codeford 1368 John de Codeford 1377 Robert Aylesham 1382 Fr Peter Stokes 1386 Henry Nafford or Yafford 1389 John Lyndon 1391 John Ashwardby 1394 Richard Ullerston 1396 Nicholas Faux 1397 William Farendon or Faringdon 1399 John Snappe and others
15th century	1401 William Farendon 1404 Griffin Kirkadam 1405 William Farendon 1406 John Whytehede 1407 John Orum 1422 John Daventry 1426 Richard Roderham 1430 Thomas Eglesfield 1431 Richard Roderham 1433 John Burbach or Hurbach 1434 Thomas Gascoigne, Christopher Knolles, John Burbach 1435 John Burbach, Thomas Bonyngworth 1436 John Burbach, Thomas Greneley 1437 John Gorsuch, Thomas Greneley 1438 John Gorsuch, William Hawtrine 1439 John Gorsuch, John Burbach, Thomas Southam, Thomas Gascoigne 1440 John Gorsuch 1441 John Gorsuch, Robert Thwaits, William Babington 1442 William Grey, William Babington, John Gorsuch, William Westkarre 1443 William Dowson, William Westkarre 1444 William Dowson, Richard Hall, William Westkarre 1445 William Dowson, John Selot 1446 William Westkarre, John Moreton, William Dowson 1447 John Burneby, William Dowson 1448 John Burneby 1449 John Willey, John Burneby, William Dowson 1450 Richard Ringstede, John Beke, Roger Bulkeley, John Van 1451 John Beke, John Van 1452 John Beke, Thomas Tweyn or Yweyn alias Chalke, Thomas Saunders 1453 Luke Lacock, Robert Thwaits, Thomas Saunders 1454 Thomas Tweyn, Thomas Saunders 1455 Thomas Twynge alias Bonifaunt 1456 Thomas Saunders 1457 Thomas Chippenham 1458 Walter Wynhale, Thomas Twynge 1459 John Danvers, Thomas Jaune or Jane 1460 Thomas Tweyn 1461 William Ive, Roger Bulkeley 1462 William Ive 1463 John Watts, Thomas Chaundler, David Husband, John Mulcaster 1464 Laurence Cokkys, Thomas Chaundler, Roger Bulkeley, John Caldbeck, Thomas Person 1465 Thomas Smith, Robert Ixworth, John Caldbeck, Thomas Chaundler 1466 Thomas Chaundler, John Caldbeck, Thomas Stevyn, Laurence Cokkys, Thomas Hill 1467 Thomas Chaundler, Thomas Stevyn, Thomas Walton 1468 Thomas Stevyn, Thomas Jaune 1469 Robert Tulley, Thomas Jaune 1470 Thomas Stevyn 1480 John Lane, William Sutton 1481 Richard Fitzjames, William Sutton 1482 Robert Wrangwais, William Sutton 1484 Richard Mayew, Thomas Pawnton 1485 Richard Mayew 1486 John Taylor 1487 Richard Estmond 1488 John Coldale 1489 John Coldale 1490 John Coldale 1491 Richard Fitzjames, John Coldale 1492 John Coldale 1493 Robert Smith 1497 William Atwater 1498 Thomas Harpur 1499 David Hays, William Atwater, Thomas Chaundeler
16th century	1500 William Atwater 1501 Thomas Banke, Hugh Saunders alias Shakspeere 1502 William Atwater, Thomas Banke, Hugh Saunders 1503 John Thornden or Thornton, John Kynton, Simon Grene alias Fotherby 1504 John Kynton, Robert Tehy or Thay 1505 Simon Grene, John Roper, John Adams 1506 John Thornden, William Fauntleroy 1507 John Thornden or Thornton, John Avery, John Kynton 1508 William Fauntleroy, John Thornden 1509 William Fauntleroy 1510 John Thornden, John Mychell 1511 William Fauntleroy, Thomas Drax, John Roper, John Cockys, Edmund Wylsford 1512 Edmund Wylsford, William Fauntleroy, John Kynton 1513 William Fauntleroy, John Kynton, John Thornden 1514 John Thornden, Lawrence Stubbs, Edmund Wylsford, Hugh Whytehead 1515 Edmund Wylsford 1516 Lawrence Stubbs 1517 Richard Duck or Doke 1518 Richard Duck or Doke 1519 Richard Barnack, Richard Duck or Doke 1520 William Broke or Brook, Richard Benger 1521 Richard Benger 1522 Richard Benger 1523 Thomas Musgrave 1527 Martin Lyndsey, John Cottisford 1528 John Cottisford 1531 Henry White 1532 John Cottisford, William Tresham 1547 Walter Wright 1550 William Tresham 1551 Owen Oglethorpe 1552 James Brookes or Brooks, Richard Marshall 1553 Richard Marshall 1554 John Warner 1555 Richard Smyth 1556 William Tresham, Thomas Raynolds 1557 Thomas Raynolds, Thomas Whyte 1558 William Tresham 1559 John Warner 1560 Francis Babbington 1561 Francis Babbington 1562 Thomas Whyte 1564 John Kennall 1567 Thomas Cowper 1570 Thomas Cowper 1571 Lawrence Humphrey 1576 Herbert Westfaling 1577 William Cole 1578 Martin Culpepper 1579 Tobias Matthew 1580 Arthur Yeldard 1581 William James 1582 Robert Hovenden 1583 Thomas Thornton 1584 John Underhill 1585 Edmund Lilly 1586 Daniel Bernard 1587 Francis Wyllis 1588 Martin Heton 1589 Nicholas Bond 1590 William James 1592 Nicholas Bond 1593 Edmund Lilly 1596 Thomas Ravys 1598 Thomas Singleton 1599 Thomas Thornton
17th century	1600 George Abbot 1601 George Ryves 1602 John Howson 1603 George Abbot 1604 John Williams 1605 George Abbot 1606 Henry Airay 1607 John King 1611 Thomas Singleton 1614 William Goodwyn 1616 Arthur Lake 1617 William Goodwyn 1619 John Prideaux 1621 William Piers 1624 John Prideaux 1626 William Juxon 1628 Accepted Frewen 1630 William Smyth 1632 Brian Duppa 1634 Robert Pincke 1636 Richard Baylie 1638 Accepted Frewen 1640 Christopher Potter 1641 John Prideaux 1642 John Prideaux in absentia (duties performed by Robert Pincke and then John Tolson as Pro-Vice-Chancellors) 1643 John Tolson, Robert Pincke 1645 Samuel Fell 1648 Edward Reynolds 1650 Daniel Greenwood 1652 John Owen 1657 John Conant 1660 Paul Hood 1661 Richard Baylie 1662 Walter Blandford 1664 Robert Say 1666 John Fell 1669 Peter Mews 1673 Ralph Bathurst 1676 Henry Clerk 1677 John Nicholas 1679 Timothy Halton 1682 John Lloyd 1685 Timothy Halton 1686 John Venn 1687 Gilbert Ironside 1689 Jonathan Edwards 1692 Henry Aldrich 1695 Fitzherbert Adams 1697 John Meare 1698 William Paynter
18th century	1700 Roger Mander 1702 William Delaune 1706 William Lancaster 1710 Thomas Brathwait 1712 Bernard Gardiner 1715 John Baron 1718 Robert Shippen 1723 John Mather 1728 Edward Butler 1732 William Holmes 1735 Stephen Niblett 1738 Theophilus Leigh 1741 Walter Hodges 1744 Euseby Isham 1747 John Purnell 1750 John Browne 1753 George Huddesford 1756 Thomas Randolph 1759 Joseph Browne 1765 David Durell 1768 Nathan Wetherell 1772 Thomas Fothergill 1776 George Horne 1780 Samuel Dennis 1784 Joseph Chapman 1788 John Cooke 1792 John Wills 1796 Scrope Berdmore 1797 Edmund Isham 1798 Michael Marlow
19th century	1802 Whittington Landon 1806 Henry Richards 1807 John Parsons 1810 John Cole 1814 Thomas Lee 1818 Frodsham Hodson 1820 George William Hall 1824 Richard Jenkyns 1828 John Collier Jones 1832 George Rowley 1836 Ashhurst Turner Gilbert 1840 Philip Wynter 1844 Benjamin Parsons Symons 1848 Frederick Charles Plumptre 1852 Richard Lynch Cotton 1856 David Williams 1858 Francis Jeune 1862 John Prideaux Lightfoot 1866 Frances Knyvett Leighton 1870 Henry George Liddell 1874 James Edwards Sewell 1878 Evan Evans 1882 Benjamin Jowett 1886 James Bellamy 1890 Henry Boyd 1894 John Richard Magrath 1898 Sir William Reynell Anson 1899 Thomas Fowler
20th century	1901 David Binning Monro 1904 William Walter Merry 1906 Herbert Warren 1910 Charles Buller Heberden 1913 Thomas Banks Strong 1917 Herbert Edward Douglas Blakiston 1920 Lewis Richard Farnell 1923 Joseph Wells 1926 Francis William Pember 1929 Frederick Homes Dudden 1932 Francis John Lys 1935 Alexander Dunlop Lindsay 1938 George Stuart Gordon 1941 Sir William David Ross 1944 Sir Richard Winn Livingstone 1947 William Teulon Swan Stallybrass 1948 The Very Reverend John Lowe 1951 Sir Cecil Maurice Bowra 1954 Alic Halford Smith 1957 John Cecil Masterman 1958 Thomas Sherrer Ross Boase 1960 Arthur Lionel Pugh Norrington 1962 Walter Fraser Oakeshott 1964 Kenneth Clinton Wheare 1966 John Norman Davidson Kelly 1966 Kenneth Turpin 1969 Alan Bullock, Lord Bullock of Leafield 1973 Sir John Habakkuk 1977 Sir Rex Richards 1981 Sir Geoffrey Warnock 1985 Lord Neill of Bladen 1989 Sir Richard Southwood 1993 Sir Peter North 1997 Sir Colin Lucas
21st century	2004 John Hood 2009 Andrew D. Hamilton 2016 Louise Richardson 2023 Irene Tracey

Francis Babington

Contents

Life

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References

Sources