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GENERAL BIOGRAPHY.

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FABER, JOHN, 2 German catholic divine 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 it hus 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: Libelius quod Fides esse possit sine charitate," 1548, 415-5 * Enchiridion Bibliorum," 1549, sto; "Fructui enibus dooscuntur Hæretics" esteemed Citrus and interesting by the Catholics, of accoum of the stories with its detalls concerning Testimoniam Scripture & praus 1 Forum Apost Rome fuisse, 1880, 47243 "A Treatise on the Mass, and the TEL Presence of Jesus Canig n the Sacrament of the Luste 14; a German « Listradon é the Prophers of Joe," as a solemios of Carition Preven, comples from the Ber's

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doctor in theology, and took an active part in 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 abie lities which he displayed, and his ardent zeal for the catholic faith, induced the bid op of Constance to appoint him his offield in the year 1518, and in the following year is vicar ge neral In the latter character he attended un assembly appointed by the senate to be held at Zurich, in the year 1993, to enquire mity the trud of the options which were at that time proregeing by Zunge and his to low-form ers is that contonu Several topere in copul between the Cahones and their oppora ning were discussed at this mouerb) y, weidi kan wang comended out a botine bay traction, the armory of na dhiueck, cora di the soundin, w't

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GENERAL BIOGRAPHY.

FAB

F.

FAB

FABER, JOHN, a German catholic divine doctor in theology, and took an active part in

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.

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 reformers, against which Faber entered his unavailing protest. In the year 1526, the Swiss can

FABER, JOHN, a German catholic divine, surnamed after the title of one of his most celebrated controversial works, Malleus Hareti-tons, with the exception of Zurich, appointed corum, 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.

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

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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 16th century, was born at Sorau, in Lower Lusatia, in the year 1520. After having received a preparatory education in his native place, he pursued his studies in different German universities, and particularly in that of Wittemberg, where his proficiency in literature gained him 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

prefixed a metrical prologue and other pieces in verse, which practice has given him a place among the early English poets; but it would not be easy to find a more uncouth rhymster. According to bishop Tanner's judgment, however, he was " Poeta haud infelicis ingenii." He died in 1512. His Chronicle was first printed in 1516, folio, and several subsequent editions were made of it. Nicholson's Hist. Libr. Warton's Hist.of Eng. Poetry. Biog. Britan.-A. FABIANUŠ, pope, or bishop of Rome in the third century, was a native of that city, or of some place in the neighbourhood, and chosen to succeed Anterus in the year 236. He presided over the Roman church for fourteen years, and fell a martyr to the christian cause under the Decian persecution, in the year 250. His conduct during his episcopate appears to have been highly praise-worthy; and by St. Cyprian he is called an excellent man, the glory of whose death had answered the purity, holiness, and integrity of his life." The following marvellous tale is related by Eusebius concerning his election: that when the people and clergy were assembled to fill the vacant see, a dove, appearing unexpectedly, settled, to the surprise of all present, upon the head of Fabianus, who was not so much as thought of, being but a layman; at which prodigy the whole assembly cried out with one voice, "Fabianus is our bishop," and, crowding around him, placed him without delay in the episcopal throne. We leave it, without any remark, to the judgment of our readers. To Fabianus, according to Tillemont and some other learned moderns, a considerable part of Gaul was indebted for its conversion to Christianity, by the care which he took to send able bishops into different parts of that country, who gained numerous proselytes, and established churches at Toulouse, Arles, Tours, Paris, Narbonne, Clermont, and Limoges. Euseb. Hist. Eccl. lib. vi. cap. 29. Platina de Vit. Pont. Moreri. Bower.-M.

FABIUS MAXIMUS, Q. surnamed RULLIANUS, an eminent Roman commander of the illustrious Fabian family, was master of the horse to the dictator Papirius Cursor, B.C. 324. Papirius, in a campaign against the Samnites, returning to Rome on account of some religious ceremony, left express orders with Fabius not to fight in his absence. Notwithstanding this prohibition, he made use of a favourable occasion, and gave the enemy a signal defeat. Conscious of having deserved the dictator's resentment, he burnt all the spoils that they might not grace his triumph, communicated to the senate, and not to him, the news of his success,

and by a seditious harangue engaged the soldiers to protect him. When Papirius arrived, armed with all the authority of the state, and by temper inclined to preserve the military discipline in all its rigour, he commanded his lictors to seize the master of the horse, and proceed to his execution. Fabius took refuge among the legions, and a tumult arose, which continued till the night. On the next day he made his escape to Rome, whither the dictator followed him, still resolved upon his punishment. His father appealed for him to the people, and endeavoured to gain over the assembly by invectives against the severity of Papirius, and a display of his son's services. The dictator supported the cause of discipline and the laws with so much energy, that the people, though inclined to favour Fabius, were thrown into perplexity. At length, instead of assuming the decision of the point, they joined in intercession with the dictator for pardon of an acknowledged criminal. Satisfied with having thus established the force of his authority, he consented to forgive the offence; and Fabius was dismissed amid the acclamations of the whole Roman people. It is unpleasing to relate that after this event Fabius was the perpetual foe of Papirius. At the next election he was chosen one of the consuls, and with his colleague obtained a great victory over the Samnites. The Samnite war continuing with dubious success,. Fabius was created dictator B.C. 313. His master of the horse was killed in an action with the enemy; but the Samnites were afterwards defeated, and the town of Saticula was taken. He was a second time consul B.C. 308, when he had the management of the war against the Etruscans, who had laid siege to Sutrium. He defeated them, and afterwards penetrated into their country through the Ciminian forest, which had hitherto been deemed impassable. On his return, after having laid waste the adjacent district, he met two tribunes of the people who had been sent to forbid him to undertake so hazardous an expedition, but who were rejoiced to find that he had opened a way to farther conquests. The Etruscans collected a great army, and returned to the camp before Sutrium, where they offered battle to the Romans. Fabius fell upon them in the night by surprise, and almost entirely destroyed their army, and took their camp. He was continued in the com mand next year, and gained a complete victory over the Umbrians, the allies of the Etruscans. He afterwards, in an extremely hard-fought battle, overthrew an army of the latter nation. which had made a vow to conquer or die. Equal

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