Richard Hakluyt, 1552 (?)–1616. Born, in Herefordshire, 1552 (?). Educated at Westminster School. To Ch. Ch., Oxford, as Student, 1570; B.A., 19 Feb. 1574; M.A., 27 Jan. 1577. Ordained, 1575 (?). To France, with Sir Edward Stafford, as Chaplain, 1583. Appointed Prebendary of Bristol, 1586. Returned to England, 1588. Rector of Wetheringselt, Suffolk, April 1590. Married, 1594 (?). Wife died, 1597 (?). Prebendary of Westminster, May 1602. Archdeacon, 1603. Chaplain of Savoy, 1604. Second marriage, March 1604. Interested in colony of Virginia, 1606. Died, in London, 23 Nov. 1616; buried in Westminster Abbey. Works: “Divers Voyages touching the Discovery of America” (under initials: R. H.), 1582; “The Principall Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation,” 1589 (enlarged edn., 3 vols., 1598–1600). Posthumous: “A Discourse concerning Western Planting,” 1877 (written 1584). He translated: Laudonnière’s “A Notable History,” 1587; Ferdinand Soto’s “Virginia richly Valued,” 1609; and edited: Anglerius’ “De Orbe Novo decades octo,” 1587; Galvano’s “Discoveries of the World,” 1601.

  Richard Hackluit was born of an ancient extract in this County, whose Family hath flourished at … in good esteem. He was bred a Student in Christ Church in Oxford, and after was Prebendary of Westminster. His Genius inclined him to the Study of History, and especially to the Marine part thereof, which made him keep constant Intelligence with the most noted Seamen of Wapping, until the day of his death. He set forth a large Collection of the English Sea Voyages, Ancient, Middle, Modern, taken partly out of private Letters, which never were (or without his care had not been) printed; partly out of small Treatises, printed, and since irrecoverably lost, had not his providence preserved them. For some Pamphlets are produced, which for their cheapnesse and smalnesse men for the present neglect to buy, presuming they may procure them at their pleasure; which small Books, their first and last Edition being past (like some Spirits that appear but once) cannot afterwards with any price or pains be recovered. In a word, many of such useful Tracts of Sea Adventures, which before were scattered as several Ships, Mr. Hackluit hath embodied into a Fleet, divided into three Squadrons, so many several Volumes; a work of great honour to England; it being possible that many Ports and Islands in America, which, being base and barren, bear only a bare name for the present, may prove rich places for the future. And then these Voyages will be produced, and pleaded, as good Evidence of their belonging to England, as first discovered and denominated by English-men. Mr. Hackluit dyed in the beginning of King James’s Reign, leaving a fair estate to an unthrift Son, who embezilled it, on this token, that he vanted, “that he cheated the covetous Usurer, who had given him spick and span new money, for the old Land of his Great Great Grandfather.”

  We have in our own language as good and as bad collections as ever were made; one instance of each may suffice. Mr. Hakluyt was an able, ingenious, diligent, accurate, and useful compiler; and his collections are as valuable as any thing in their kind; on the other hand, Purchas his Pilgrims are very voluminous, and for the most part a very trifling and insignificant collection.

  Richard Hakluyt, the enlightened friend and able documentary historian of these commercial enterprises, a man whose fame should be vindicated and asserted in the land which he helped to colonize.

  Every reader conversant in the annals of our naval transactions, will cheerfully acknowledge the merit of Richard Hakluyt, who devoted his studies to the investigation of those periods of English history, which regard the improvement of navigation and commerce. He had the advantages of an academical education. He was elected student of Christ Church in Oxford, in 1570, and was therefore contemporary with Sidney at the University. To him we are principally indebted for a clear and comprehensive description of those noble discoveries of the English nation made by sea or overland to the most distant quarter of the earth. His incomparable industry was remunerated with every possible encouragement by Sir Francis Walsingham and Sir Philip Sidney. To the latter, as to a most generous promoter of all ingenious and useful knowledge, he inscribed his first collection of voyages and discoveries, printed in 1589. Thus animated and encouraged, he was enabled to leave to posterity the fruits of his unwearied labours—an invaluable treasure of nautical information preserved in volumes, which even at this day, affix to his name a brilliancy of reputation, which a series of ages can never efface or obscure.

  All hail to thee Richard Hakluyt! for thou wert a genius of no ordinary complexion. What, though the warmth of a prebendal stall in the Abbey of Westminster might have comforted thy limbs, and thy clerical duties in the rural shades of Wetheringset have occupied much of thy time, yet, behold this meritorious Divine stealing, “many a time and oft,” to the then picturesque vicinity of Wapping;—holding discourse with sea-faring men: listening, with willing and greedy ears, to tales of adventure and high exploit: feeling the passion for visiting distant parts increasing daily within him; and influenced by the secret advice and urgent entreaty of that wise Minister Walsingham, gratifying this passion, in the collection of scarce and curious tracts, and in obtaining accurate notices relating to the growth and produce “of either Ind.”

  Much more is, indeed, offered to a refined and philosophic observer, though buried amid this unwieldy and unsightly mass, than was ever supposed by its original readers, or even its first compilers.

  Alas for the readers of modern travels, who can no longer participate in the wild and awful sensations of the all-believing faith of “the home-bred wit” of the Elizabethan era,—the first readers of Hakluyt’s immense collection!

  The Prose Epic of the modern nation. They contain the heroic tales of the exploits of the great men in whom the new era was inaugurated.

  He might easily have made a name for himself as a writer, as an essayist or commentator, if he had not sacrificed this prospect for the sake of his lifelong work of research.

  Hakluyt’s “Principal Navigations, Voiages and Discoveries of the English Nation,” 1589, with rare map, fine copy, in pigskin. Jadis, £26, 5s. Same copy, Duke of Hamilton (1884), £23.