Richard Hakluyt

was born of, and descended from, an ancient and gentile Family of his name living at Yetton in Herefordshire, elected Student of Ch. Ch. from Westminster School, in 1570. took the degrees in Arts, lived for some time in the Middle Temple, where, I presume, he studied the Municipal Law. Afterwards he entred into holy Orders, and at length became Prebendary of the fourth stall in the Church of Westminster, in the place of one Dr. Rich. Webster, an. 1605. and Rector of Wetheringset in Suffolk. But that which is chiefly to be noted of him is this, that his Genie urging him to the study of History, especially to the Marine part thereof, (which was encouraged and furthered by Sir Francis Walsingham,) made him keep constant intelligence with the most noted Seamen at Wapping near London. From whom, and 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 a book intit.

English Voyages, Navigations, Trafficks, and Discoveries. Lond. 1598. 99. and 1600. in three vol. in fol. Which work being by him performed with great care and industry, cannot but be an honour to the Realm of England, because possibly many Ports and Islands in America, that are base and barren, and only bear a name for the present, may prove rich places in future time.

Notes of certain Commodities in good request in the East Indies, the Molucoes, and China.—MS. among those given by Seldens Executors to the Pub. Lib. at Oxon. He also illustrated by diligent observation of time, and with most useful notes, Peter Mart. Anglericus his eight Decades De novo orbe. Par. 1587. oct. and corrected and much amended, and translated into English, The discoveries of the World from the first original, unto the year of our Lord 1555. Lond. 1601. qu. briefly written in the Portugal tongue, by Anth. Galvano, Governour of Ternate, the chief Island of the Molucoes: As also from the said Language into our English tongue, Virginia richly valued, by the description of the main Land of Florida, her next Neighbour. Lond. 1609. qu. He paid his last debt to nature, 23. Nov. in sixteen hundred and sixteen, 1616 and was buried in the Abbey Church of Westminster, dedicated to S. Peter, on the 26. of the same month, leaving behind him a Son named Edmund, begotten on the body of Frances his Wife, to whom he left his Mannor of Bridgplace; and several tenements in Tuttlestreet within the City of Westminster. Oliver Hackluyt, Brother to the said Richard, was a Student of Ch. Ch. also, and being graduated in Physick had an happy hand in the practice of it. In R. Hakluyts Prebendship of Westminster succeeded Joh. Holt of Cor. Ch. coll. as I shall tell you elsewhere.