Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Habington, Edward
HABINGTON, ABINGTON, or ABINGDON, EDWARD (1553?–1586), one of the conspirators in the plot formed by Anthony Babington [see Babington, Anthony], was eldest son of John Habington (1515-1581) of Hindlip, Worcestershire, by his wife Catherine, daughter of John Wykes. Thomas Habington [q. v.] was a younger brother. His father held the office of under-treasurer or 'cofferer' to Queen Elizabeth (Camden, Annales, ii. 476; Hist. MSS. Comm. 7th Rep. App. p. 637 a and b). Born about 1553, Edward was educated at Exeter College, Oxford, where he took his bachelor's degree in 1574 (Oxf. Univ. Reg., Oxf. Hist. Soc., ii. ii. 33, iii. 37). On leaving the university he spent much time at court. He there made the acquaintance of Anthony Babington, a catholic courtier, who early in 1586 was maturing, at the instigation of a Jesuit [see Ballard, John], a plan for a general rising of the catholics which should accomplish the murder of the queen and the liberation of Mary Stuart, at that time imprisoned at Chartley. Habington not only joined Babington's conspiracy with other young frequenters of the court, but was named one of the six conspirators charged with the contemplated murder of Elizabeth. In July 1586 the plot was discovered by Walsingham's spies [see Gifford, Gilbert]. Habington, found at the end of August in hiding near the residence of his family in Worcestershire, was thrown into the Tower. Brought with six others to trial on 15 Sept., he resolutely denied his guilt, and claimed to be confronted with two witnesses to his complicity, according to Edward VI's statute regulating trials for treason. But on the confession of other prisoners, and on the fragments of a confession written and subsequently torn up by himself while in prison, he was found guilty and condemned to death. On 20 Sept. 1586 he was hanged and quartered in St. Giles's Fields. In a speech from the scaffold he vehemently maintained his innocence (Camden, Annales, ii. 484).
[Nash's Worcestershire, i. 588 (pedigree); State Trials, i. 116-22; State Paper Cal. 1581-90, p. 354; Froude's Hist. of England, xii. 227-69; Lingard's Hist. vi. 209-10.]