Fabyan, or Fabian, Robert (died 1512), was an English chronicler of the fifteenth century. He was a prosperous London citizen, and became sheriff in 1493. His book “A Concordance of Histories,” begins, as usual, with Brutus, and is a commonplace compilation up to his own time, when it becomes moderately useful as contemporary, if uncritical, evidence, and is especially full on London history. The first edition was printed in 1516.
The first post in the sixteenth century is due to Robert Fabian, an eminent merchant, and sometime sheriff of London…. Both Bale and Pitts subdivide his historical writings into a great many several treatises: but, I presume, what they call his Historiarum Concordantiæ is the sum of all…. He is very particular in the affairs of London, many good things being noted by him, which concern the government of that great city, hardly to be had elsewhere.
A modern Master Wit, in the contest betwixt the Poets of our age for the Laurel maketh Apollo to adjudge it to an Alderman of London, “because to have most wealth was a sign of most wit.” But, had the scene of this competition been laid seven-score years since, and the same remitted to the umpirage of Apollo, in sober sadness he would have given the Laurel to this our Alderman.
Is generally better known as an historian, than as a poet. He was esteemed, not only the most facetious, but the most learned, of all the mercers, sheriffs, and aldermen, of his time: and no layman of that age is said to have been better skilled in the Latin language…. Our author’s transitions from prose to verse, in the course of a prolix narrative, seem to be made with much ease; and, when he begins to versify, the historian disappears only by the addition of rhyme and stanza…. As an historian, our author is the dullest of compilers. He is equally attentive to the succession of the mayors of London, and of 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.
Fabyan’s “New Chronicles” are worthy of mention as the massive and dull writings of a contemporaneous London alderman. His musty pages give much information in regard to the city, and a little in regard to the country as a whole. His partialities for the Lancasterian House were very strong.
The day had now arrived, in the progress of society, when chronicles were written by laymen. The first in our vernacular prose was the labor of a citizen and alderman, and sometime sheriff of London,—Robert Fabyan; and was designed for “the unlettered who understand no Latin.” In the accustomed mode, he fixes the historic periods by dates from Adam or from Brut, and composing in the spirit of the day, mentions the revolutions of government with the same brevity as he speaks of the price of wheat and poultry; passes unnoticed his friend Caxton, to speak of “a new weathercock placed on the cross of St. Paul’s steeple;” tells us that of the French monarch’s dress “I might make a long rehearsal;” finds the level of his faculties in recording “flying dragons in the air,” or describing the two castles in space, whence issued two armies black and white, combating in the skies till the white vanished.
It is important as showing the first attempt, earnest although uncritical, to weigh authorities against one another…. His respect for preceding authorities, however fabulous their tales, was tempered only by the fact that they did not all agree.
Fabyan’s “Chronicles” (Pynson, 1516), first edition. Dr. F. Bernard (1698), 4s. 8d. Roberts (1815), £84—North. John North (1819), £92. (Perfect). Samuel Lysons (1820), £35—Lord Aylesford. Lord Aylesford (1888), £250—Christie Miller. (Completed by leaves from another edition.)
