(Robert), an alderman of the city of London, and sheriff in the year 1494; was a person of learning for the time he lived in, a good poet, and author of a Chronicle of England and France, intitled The Concordance of Stories, in two volumes folio, beginning with Brute, and ending with the 20th of Henry VII. 1504. It contains several curious particulars relative to the city of London, not elsewhere to be found. Stowe calls it "a painful labour, to the great honour of the city and of the whole realm." We are told that Cardinal Wolsey caused as many copies of of this book, as he could procure, to be burned, because the author had made too clear a discovery of the large revenues of the clergy. Fabius died in 1512.

**Fabius Maximus** (Quintus), one of the greatest generals of his time, was surnamed *Cunctator*, because being created dictator, after the battle of Trasimene, in the 217th year before the Christian era, he found means to weary out Hannibal without fighting, by encamping in the most advantageous manner, and incessantly harassing him. Hannibal sent him word, that "If he was as great a captain as he would be thought, he ought to come into the plain and give him battle." But Fabius coldly replied, "That if he was as great a captain as he would be thought, he would do well to force him to fight." Fabius was five times consul; and performed such great services for his country, that he was called *The Buckler of the Republic*. See *(History of) Rome*.

**Fabius**, styled *Pillar*, a Roman general and historian. He first introduced painting at Rome; and having caused the walls of the temple of Health to be painted, some authors have erroneously reckoned him a painter. Died about 216 B.C.

**Fable**, a tale, or feigned narration, designed either to instruct or divert, disguised under the allegory of an action, &c.

Fables were the first pieces of wit that made their appearance in the world; and have continued to be highly valued, not only in times of the greatest simplicity, but in the most polite ages of the world. Joatham's fable of the trees is the oldest that is extant, and as beautiful as any that have been made since. Nathan's fable of the poor man is next in antiquity. We find Aesop in the most distant ages of Greece; and in the early days of the Roman commonwealth, we read of a mutiny appeased by the fable of the belly and the members. As fables had their rise in the very infancy of learning, they never flourished more than when learning was at its greatest height; witness Horace, Boileau, and Fontaine.