Francis Sabie (fl. 1587-1616), was a minor poet and a schoolmaster at Lichfield in 1587. He published three volumes of verse: two in 1595 and one in 1596. His earliest publication, in two parts, was entitled The Fisher-Mans Tale: of the Famous Actes, Life, and Love of Cassander, a Grecian Knight (1595), and Flora's Fortune: the Second Part and Finishing of the ‘Fisher-Mans Tale’ (1595). The work was a paraphrase in blank verse of Pandosto: the Triumph of Time (afterwards renamed Dorastus and Fawnia), a romance by Robert Greene. The first part was dedicated to Henry Mordaunt, and the second to Francis Tresham.

Sabie it appears was strongly influenced by Robert Greene and his Pastoral Romances.

To the Worshipful, his verie good friend, M. Francis Tresham sonne and heire to, to the renowned and vertuous Knight, Sir Thomas Tresham, Francis Sabie wisheth full fruition of mortall and immortall foelicite.

The report and consideration (right worshipful of your exceeding courtesie, the great and immerited friendship which I and my parentes have and do daylie find at the handes of the renowned and vertuous Knight, your Father, doe embolden mee to present unto your Worship this my unpollished Poeme, from which otherwise, the imbecilitie of my skill in this divine arte, and rudenesse of these my lines, doe altogether dehort me. Which if your Worship (serious affairs ended) shall vouchsafe to cast a favourable glaunce upon, and therein shall find any part or parcell pleasing to your vertuous mind, I shall esteeme my travell as much worth, as had it otherwise beene spent, in winning the golden Apples of Hisperia, or in fetching precious Iems from the chrystall lake of the Pearl-flowing Tagus. The historie (I praesume) you shall finde delightful, the matter not offensive to anie, only my skill in penning it is, imbicill; and my presumption in presenting so rude a peece of worke to so wise a Patrone, verie great: which I hope your Worship will the more bear with, and account the rather to bee pardonable, in that the fault proceedeth from a good intention and faultlesse meaning.

Your Worships immoovable votarie

FRANCIS SABIE

Sabie's exact relationship with Francis Tresham is as yet unknown as is the apparent patronage of his parents at the hands of Sir Thomas Tresham. Was Tresham a minor patron of the arts, a pastime he had perhaps learnt while under the influence of the Stanley family [The Earls of Derby]?

[Update 04/02/06]

Recent GPS research though has since proved at least one of Stanford's theories as incorrect. in her biographical sketch, she claims on the last page that "After the publication of Adam's Complaint [1595] Francis Sabie disappears from our sight..". In the records of the Diocese of Canterbury for the period 1609-1614, the following probate entry is recorded:

Archdeaconry Court Miscellaneous - ref. DCb/PRC/18/8/92 - date: 10 Mar 1609/10
PLAINTIFF: Fran SABIE Vic Elham Nich LADDE, Elham; DEFENDANT: Joan JOHNCOCKE same psh; DOCUMENT: Appeal & Confession; CASE: n.s.

Further research on the Clergy of the Church of England Database revealed yet another entry in relation to Francis Sabie - Staffordshire records of the Tatenhill, Wychnor Chapel [in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield] made during George Abbot’s appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury (1611-1633) show that on 20th August 1616 one Francis Sabie was appointed Curate. Sabie was succeeded in 1639 [under the appointment of Robert Wright] by Anthony Mason.

So here we have evidence that Francis Sabie, alive in at least 1616 when this appointment was made, was still connected to Lichfield, where one of the Francis Sabie's had been a schoolmaster. Based on deductive reasoning from the first mention of Francis Sabie (in 1587 as the father of Edmond Sabie), Francis would have been born circa 1550 [his son in 1594 had to be at least 24, in order to complete his 7 year apprenticeship]. thus if this was the Francis Sabie appointed as Curate in 1616, he would at this time been in his late 60's. Is this too late a point in a man's life to be appointed to such a position? Perhaps. One thing we do know from this appointment is that the next appointment to this same position was made in 1639. There is no indication that an earlier one was made as a result of death, therefore we are led to assume that in 1639 Francis Sabie was still alive and replaced by Mason in his capacity as Curate, or died in this year and was subsequently succeeded by Mason.

In 1639, Francis Sabie would have been at least 89 years of age. While this is not beyond the realms of possibility, it would certainly make more sense to look at the possibility that this was in fact Francis Sabie, son of the schoolmaster, also called Francis Sabie. This belief has several things backing it up. It is odd that the eldest or only son [Edmond] of a well-connected man such as Francis Sabie became an apprentice. It would make more sense if his eldest son had followed him into the clergy, and the younger son had become an apprentice.

Francis Sabie the poet dedicated his work to Tresham, and in his work it is evident that he is either a young man, or one wishing to write in a youthful style. He claims in the dedication that he and his parents have both much to thank the Tresham's for. If his father was born around 1550, it would make the poet a contemporary of Francis Tresham and Henry Mordaunt. Perhaps the elder Sabie, the schoolmaster had been a private tutor to Francis Tresham or his siblings? It would also have made more sense, if it were the Sabie born circa 1550 to have dedicated the work to Sir Thomas Tresham, who would have been a contemporary of his, not his sons.

Lastly, Francis Sabie the poet would have been a man in his mid 40's in 1616 if it were he who had returned to the region of his birth to follow his father into the church. Perhaps he had become disillusioned with the plight of his Catholic friends such as Tresham or Mordaunt.

[Update 26/08/06] - Additional Records uncovered

Several Sabie / Saby family records (wills, Burials, and marriage banns) discovered for the period 1667-1701 in Thingdon, Higham-Ferrers and Rushden in Northamptonshire confirming the family connection in the area.

From the Wills of the Archdeaconry of Suffolk 1625/1626, a Francis Sabie along with Thomas Huggon witnessed the will of Mary Marratt of Hacheston, Suffolk 23 January 1625

From Volume 7: Kent: - Canterbury Licences (Teaching and Medical) 1568-1646 is the following entry for 1612 - 113b Fran Sabie MA clk, Hythe, 19 Sep 1612. Whether this is either of our identified Francis Sabies is yet to be determined.

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