Babington, Gervase

Babington, Gervase an eminent English prelate, was born at Nottingham in the year 1551. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he became master of arts in 1578. He applied himself closely to theology, and became one of the most impressive and useful preachers of his day. In 1588 he was installed into the prebend of Wellington, in the cathedral of Hereford, and through the interest of the Earl of Pembroke was advanced to the bishopric of Llandaff in 1591. In 1594 he was translated to the see of Exeter, from whence, in 1597, he was translated to Worcester. Bishop Babington was a man of eminent Christian character as well as scholarship. Fuller testifies that he "was not tainted with pride, idleness, or covetousness." He died 17th May, 1610. His works are collected under the title "The Works of the Right Reverend Father in God, Gervase Babington, late Bishop of Worcester" (Lond. 1622, fol.). They contain Notes on the Pentateuch, Exposition of the Creed, the Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer, with a Conference between Man's Frailty and Faith, and three sermons. — Jones, Christian Biography, p. 16; Hook, Eccl. Biog. 1, 446.