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sion, and which he has dispersed in different places throughout the work. Hakluyt was descended of an ancient family at

Eyton in He

refordshire, and born in 1553. He was educated at Westminster, and at Christ-Church in Oxford; and was famous for his extensive knowledge of the naval history of England. That he might prosecute his favourite studies to greater advantage, he made himself master, at Oxford, not only of the Latin and Greek, but of the Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French languages; he became so distinguished for his skill in geography, and the branches of science and information connected with it, that he was appointed to read lectures on those subjects in the university; and was the first who introduced maps, globes, spheres, and other instruments relating to the same sciences, into the common schools.

Besides his MS. remains, interspersed with Purchas's writings, the public is indebted to him for several other works; as 1. A Collection of Voyages and Discoveries, published in 1582, 2. A translation from the French of "The notable History of Florida." 1587. 3. A new edition of the De Orbe Novo of Peter Martyr, illustrated with marginal notes, a commodious

index, a map of New England and America; 1587. 4. His Naval History of Britain, his most important work, was published in 1589, in one vol. folio. In this he has amassed, translated, and digested all voyages, journals, narratives, patents, letters, instructions, &c. relative to the English navigations. He died in 1616.

2. Purchas was likewise the author of two or three other works. 1. Purchas his Pilgrim. 2. Microcosmus, or the History of Man, &c. Meditated on the words of David, Psalm 39. 5. being a funeral sermon. 3. The King's Tower and Triumphant Arch of London.

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BURTON,

ROBERT Burton, author of the Anatomy of Melancholy, son of Ralph Burton, of an ancient and genteel family at Lindley in Leicestershire, was born in 1576. He was initiated in learning at Sutton Coldfield, in Warwickshire, whence he was removed, in 1593, to Brazen-nose College, Oxford. In 1599, he was elected student of Christ Church, and the vicarage of St. Thomas, in the west suburb of Oxford, was conferred upon him by the dean and canons of Christ Church; as likewise the rectory of Segrave in Leicestershire, in 1636, by George, Lord Berkeley. He died at his college of Christ Church, in 1639-40, at or very near the time which he had some years before foretold, from the calculation of his own nativity. "The time," says Wood," being exact, several of the students did not for

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bear to whisper among themselves, that rather than there should be a mistake in the calculation, he sent up his soul to heaven through a slip about his neck."

The Anatomy of Melancholy is written under the assumed name of Democritus Junior. In his address to the reader, after a brief delineation of the character of Democritus, he proceeds to give the following account of himself, assigning his reasons for the assumption of his name.

But, in the mean time, how doth this concern me, or upon what reference do I usurp his habit? I confess, indeed, that to compare myself unto him, for ought I have yet said, were both impudency and arrogancy. Yet thus much I will say of myself, and that I hope without all suspicion of pride or self-conceit, I have lived a silent, sedentary, solitary, private life, mihi et musis, in the university, as long almost as Xenocrates in Athens, ad senectam fere, to learn wisdom as he did, penned up most part in my study: for I have been brought up a student in the most flourishing college of Europe, augustissimo collegio, and can brag with Jovius, almost in ea luce domicilii Vaticani, totius orbis celeberrimi per 37 annos multa opportunaque didici; for thirty years I have continued (having the use of as good libraries as ever he

had) a scholar, and would be therefore loth, either by living as a drone, to be an unprofitable or unworthy member of so learned and noble a society, or to write that which should be any way dishonourable to such a royal and ample foundation. Something I have done: though by my profession a divine, yet turbine raptus ingenii, as he said, out of a running wit, an inconstant unsettled mind, I had a great desire (not able to attain to a superficial skill in any) to have some, smattering in all, to be aliquis in omnibus, nullus in singulis; which Plato cominends, out of him Lipsius approves, and furthers as fit to be imprinted in all curious wits, not to be a slave of one science, or dwell altogether in one subject, as most do, but to rove abroad, centum puer artium; to have an oar in every man's boat, to taste of every dish, and to sip of every cup; which, saïth Montaigne, was well performed by Aristotle, and his learned countryman, Adrian Turnebus. This roving humour (though not with like success) I have ever had, and like a ranging spaniel, that barks at every bird he sees, leaving his game, I have followed all, saving that which I should, and may justly complain and truly, qui ubique est, which Gesner did in modesty; that I have read many books, but to little purpose, for want of good method; I have confusedly tumbled over divers authors in our libraries, with small profit, for want of art, order, memory, judgment. I never

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