FAB

FAB

and controversial writer in the 16th century, was born at Hailbron, on the Necker, about the year 1500. We learn no farther particulars concerning the circumstances of his life, than that he became a member of the dominican order at Wimpfen; was created a doctor in theology at Cologne; and afterwards resided at Augsburg, where he acquired high reputation in his communion by his pulpit services, and various theological publications, particularly some polemical treatises against the Protestants. Of the time of his death we have no certain information. His works were: "Libellus quod Fides esse possit sine charitate," 1548, 4to.; "Enchiridion Bibliorum," 1549, 4to.; "Fructus quibus dignoscuntur Hæretici," esteemed curious and interesting by the Catholics, on account of the stories which it details concerning Luther "Testimonium Scripturæ & patrum B. Petrum Apost. Romæ fuisse," 1553, 4to.; "A Treatise on the Mass, and the real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Eucharist," &c. 1555, 4to.; a German "Illustration of the Prophecy of Joel," 1557; a collection of "Christian Prayers," compiled from the Scriptures and the works of St. Augustin, &c. Moreri.-M.

FABER, JOHN, a German catholic divine, surnamed after the title of one of his most celebrated controversial works, Malleus Hæreticorum, or the Mallet of Heretics, was born at Leutkirchen, a town in Suabia, towards the latter end of the 15th century. After distinguishing himself by the progress which he made in academic studies, at different German universities, he was admitted to the degree of

VOL. IV.

the disputes of the Catholics with the Lutherans, and Sacramentarians, as those were called who adopted the doctrine of Carolostadt and Zuingle respecting the eucharist. The abilities which he displayed, and his ardent zeal for the catholic faith, induced the bishop of Constance to appoint him his official in the year 1518, and in the following year his vicar-general. In the latter character he attended an assembly appointed by the senate to be held at Zurich, in the year 1523, to enquire into the truth of the opinions which were at that time propagating by Zuingle and his fellow-reformers in that canton. Several topics in dispute between the Catholics and their opponents were discussed at this assembly, which Faber warmly contended ought to be tried by an appeal to tradition, the authority of the church, and the canons of the councils, while his adversaries would admit of no other test of truth but the Scriptures. It was at this assembly that Faber is reported incautiously to have exclaimed, when hard pressed by his opponents' continued appeal to the Gospel," that the world might very well live in peace without the Gospel." The result of the meeting was an edict issued by the. senate, favourable to the opinions of the reformn-. ers, against which Faber entered his unavail ing protest. In the year 1526, the Swiss ran tons, with the exception of Zurich, appointed an assembly to be held at Baden, at which the most learned catholic divines were invited to attend, and a safe conduct was offered to Zuingle, and as many of the reformers as chose to accept of it, in order to enter on a public disputation concerning the questions in debate be-1

B

tween them. Oecolampadius and some others of his party accordingly appeared at Baden, where the celebrated Eckius principally sus tained the contest with them, and the Catholics obtained a decree condemning the doctrines of Luther and Zuingle, and ordaining that in every canton superintendants should be appointed, who should, with the magistrates and other officers, prevent all innovations, and inform against and punish all offenders. At this as sembly Faber was designed to enter the lists against Zuingle; but as the latter did not deem it prudent to go to Baden, their debates were confined to the press, whence they issued different publications in defence of their respective tenets. During the year last mentioned Faber was appointed confessor to Ferdinand, king of the Romans, and afterwards emperor, who sent him as his envoy to the court of Henry VIII. king of England. In the year 1531, the learning and labours which he had displayed in support of the catholic cause were rewarded by his advancement to the bishopric of Vienna. Alluding to the principal ground of this promotion, Erasmus said, " that Luther, notwithstanding his poverty, found means to enrich his enemies." After presiding over the see of Vienna for more than ten years, Faber died in the year 1542. He was the author of numerous works, historical, controversial, and practical, which were collected together, and published at different periods during his life-time, at Cologne, in three volumes folio. His "Malleus Hæreticorum" procured the author no little reputation at Rome, where it was received with great applause, and underwent different impressions; and his account of his disputation with the Zuinglians at Baden, was translated from the original German into Latin by Thomas Murner, and published at Lucern, in 1528, under the title "Causa Helvetica, Orthodoxe Fidei." Dupin. Moreri. Nouv. Dict. Hist.-M. FABER, BASIL, a learned German in the 6th century, was born at Sorau, in Lower Lusatia,m the year 1520. After having received a preparatory education in his native place; he purred his studies in different German universities, and particularly in that of Wittemberg where his proficiency in literature gained hit the applause and esteem of the professors. About the year 1550 he was appointed rector of the seminary at Nordhausen; afterwards of that at Tennstadt; then of the seminary at Quidlinburg; and lastly of the Augustinian college at Erfurt. He died in the year 1576. Besides the share which he sustained in common with other learned men in

some of the philological and ecclesiastical writings of the times, particularly in the "Centuriæ Magdeburgenses," he published a German translation of Luther's Latin "Remarks on the Book of Genesis," and also of "The Chronicle of Krantzius." He was likewise the author of a work entitled "Collectanea de novissimis & Statu Animarum Seperatarum," chiefly compiled from the writings of Luther, to whose opinions he was zealously attached, and the works of other authors. But his fame with posterity principally rests on his "Thesaurus Eruditionis Scholasticæ," a work of great labour and learning, which was published by him in the year 1571. After the author's death that work received at different times considerable additions from the labours of other learned men, and appeared in its most complete form at the Hague, in 1735, in two volumes folio. Moreri. Nouv. Dict. Hist. Saxii. Onomast. Pars III.-M.

FABIAN, ROBERT, an English historian, or rather chronicler, was born in London in the fifteenth century. He was brought up to commerce, in which he became sufficiently eminent to be chosen sheriff of the city in 1493. He ranks among the few men of learning who have graced the magistracy of the English metropolis, though his scholarship seems not to have risen higher than a slight acquaintance with the Latin and French languages, besides his own. His particular study was history, and he employed himself in compiling a chronicle, which was printed after his death. It is entitled "A Concordance of Stories," and contains seven parts, of which the first six bring the history of England from the fabulous Trojan Brutus to William the Conqueror; the seventh carries on the English and parallel French histories down to the reign of Henry VII. The merit of this compilation is very small; all the earlier parts being copied without any judgment from Geoffrey of Monmouth and the old historians, good and bad; and the latter being filled with the most trifling occurrences as well as the most important. He is copious in the affairs of London, and records many particulars not to be met with elsewhere; whence John Stow calls his work "a painful labour, to the great honour of the city and the whole realm." According to Mr. Warton, Fabian "is equally attentive to the Mayors of London and the Monarchs of England, and seems to have thought the dinners at Guildhall, and the pageantries of the city companies, more interesting transactions than our victories in France, and our struggles for public liberty at home." To each of his books are