recorded therein to so many heroic exploits, before we can expect such a true taste of delight will prevail to do them so much justice; or that envy of transcendent worth, will permit a noble emulation of it so far to perpetuate the renown of our said ancestors, as to render, by this means, their memory no less durable and extensive, than their merits have demanded. For it may, perhaps, be thought impolitic, thus to display the most hazardous and the most generous enterprizes which appear in this book, for the honour and advantage of our country, till the virtues of our predecessors will not reflect disadvantageous comparisons upon the posterity, who shall revive them. But there may be still room left for a more favourable construction of such neglect, and to hope that nothing but the casual scarcity or obscurity of a work, so long since out of print, may have prevented its falling into those able and happy hands, as might, by such an edition, reward the eminent examples preserved therein, the collector thereof, and themselves, according to all their deserts."

Oldys further observes, that, " as it has been so useful to many of our authors, not only in cosmography and navigation but in history, especially that of the glorious reign in which so many brave exploits were atchieved; as it has been such a leading star to the naval histories since compiled; and saved from the wreck of oblivion many exemplary incidents in the lives of our most renowned navigators; it has therefore been unworthily omitted in the English historical library. And lastly, though the first volume of this collection does frequently appear, by the date in the title page, to be printed in 1599, the reader is not thence to conclude the said volume was then reprinted,

but

but only the title page, as upon collating the books we have observed; and further, that in the said last printed title page, there is no mention made of the Cadiz voyage; to omit which might be one reason of reprinting that page: for it being one of the most prosperous and honourable enterprizes that ever the Earl of Essex was engaged in, and he falling into the Queen's unpardonable displeasure at this time, our author, Mr. Hakluyt, might probably receive command or direction, even from one of the patrons to whom these voyages are dedicated, who was of the contrary faction, not only to suppress all memorial of that action in the front of this book, but even cancel the whole narrative thereof at the end of it, in all the copies (far the greatest part of the impression) which remained unpublished. And in that castrated manner the volume has descended to posterity; not but if the castration was intended to have been concealed from us, the last leaf of the preface would have been reprinted also, with the like omission of what is there mentioned concerning the insertion of this voyage. But at last, about the middle of the late King's reign, an uncastrated copy did arise, and the said voyage was reprinted from it; whereby many imperfect books have been made complete."

Locke says that the Collection of Hakluyt "is scarce, and valuable, for the good there is to be picked out: but it might be wished the author had been less voluminous; delivering what was really authentic and useful, and not stuffing his work with so many stories taken upon trust; so many trading voyages that have nothing new in them; so many warlike exploits not at all pertinent to his undertaking; and such a multi

tude of articles, charters, privileges, letters, relations, and other things little to the purpose of travels and discoveries."

He says of Purchas, that "he has imitated Hakluyt too much, swelling his work into five volumes in folio." But he adds, that "the whole collection is very valuable, as having preserved many considerable voyages, that might otherwise have perished. But like Hakluyt, he has thrown in all that came to hand to fill up so many volumes, and is excessive full of his own notions, and of mean quibbling, and playing upon words; yet for such as can make choice of the best, the collection is very valuable."*

Richard Hakluyt was descended from an ancient family seated at Yetton in Herefordshire, elected student of Christ Church from Westminster school in 1570, took his degree, and then removed to the Middle Temple, where, it is supposed, he studied the law. Afterwards he entered into orders, and became Prebendary of Westminster, 1605, and Rector of Wetheringsett, Suffolk. His genius leading him to the study of history, especially of the maritime part of it, which was encouraged by Sir Francis Walsingham, he kept a constant intelligence with the most celebrated navigators of his day; and from them, and from many small pamphlets and letters, that were published, and went from hand to hand in his time, concerning the voyages and travels of several persons, he compiled his collection. He died the 23d of No

The price both of Hakluyt and Purchas is high, but of the latter extravagant: Mr. Clarke names fifteen guineas, I suspect it is now much

higher.

vember 1616, and was buried in St. Peter's church, Westminster. Anthony Wood records the following publications by him, viz. "The Discoveries of the World from the first original to the year of our Lord 1555. London. 1601. 410. corrected and much amended, and translated into English from the Portugueze of Anth. Galvano, Governor of Ternate, the chief island of the Moluccas.

He also translated from the same language into English "Virginia richly valued by the description of the main land of Florida, her next neighbour. London. 1609. 4to." He likewise illustrated by diligent observation of time, and with most useful notes, "Peter Mert. Anglericus, his eight Decades de novo orbe. Paris. 1587. 8vo.*"

Samuel Purchas, by some styled our English Ptolemy, was born either at Dunmow, or Thaxted, in Essex, and educated at Cambridge, from whence he became minister of East-wood in Rochford hundred, in his native county. But being desirous to prosecute his natural turn for collecting and writing voyages and travels, he left his cure to his brother, and by the favour of the Bishop of London, procured the rectory of Saint Martin's church, within Ludgate. Besides his great work, he published "Purchas his Pilgrim, Microcosmus, or the History of Man, &c. London. 1619. 8vo." Also " The King's Tower and Triumphant Arch of London. London. 1623. 8vo." and "A Funeral Sermon on Psalm xxxix. 5. 1619. 8vo."

By the publication of these books he brought himself into debt, and is reported to have died in prison.

But this is not the fact, as he died at his own house, about 1628, aged 51, a little while after the King had promised him a deanery.

John Bosart in his Bibliotheca thus speaks of him: "Samuel Purchas Anglus linguarum et artium divinarum atque humanarum egregiè peritus, philosophus, historicus, et theologus maximus, patriæ ecclesiæ antistes fidelis, multis egregiis scriptis et imprimis orientalis occidentalique India variis voluminibus patriâ linguâ conscriptis celeberrimus." Another Samuel Purchas, A.M. who published " ATheatre to Political flying Insects, &c. London, 1657. 4to." was his son, as appears by the last copy of verses before that book.*

ART. III. English Collections of Voyages continued,

To bring into one point of view the principal collections subsequent to Hakluyt and Purchas, I here take the liberty of borrowing the materials offered to me in the preface of Clark's Progress of Maritime Discovery,

In 1704 a collection of repute was published by Churchill. This, when complete, with the two volumes of scarce voyages, printed from Lord Oxford's Collections, the first of which appeared in 1732, amounts to eight volumes in folio, and bears à high price. A new edition appeared in 1732 and 1752.

Harris's Collection, in two volumes folio, entitled, "Navigantium atque itinerantium Bibliotheca" followed in 1705, and was considered as a rival publi

*Wood's Fasti, I. 200.

cation,