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is alluring, however inappropriate to the contents such an exclusive designation may be found; and as the size and typographical execution of the work conspire to render the enterprise a very creditable one, for the early era of its appearance, the national complacency has rallied round it as a trophy, with a sort of enthusiasm. "It redounds," says Oldys, "as much to the glory of the English nation as any book that ever was published in it ;" and Dr. Dibdin, in the passage of his Library Companion, beginning "All hail to thee, Richard Hakluyt!" employs, in his way, a still higher strain of panegyric. For a decayed gentleman, then, like Eden, it may not be wise to slight a patronising glance of recognition from one who stands so prosperously in the world's favour.

To establish him, therefore, in the high confidence of most readers, it will be sufficient to find Hakluyt (vol. iii. p. 498) quoting a passage from "that learned and painefull writer, Richard Eden;" and again (vol. i. p. 242) adverting to the ́sanction which Eden gives to the account of Chancellor's voyage. In the second volume (part ii. p. 10) other passages are copied from Eden's work. The extract from Peter Martyr d'Angleria, relative to Sebastian Cabot, given in the third volume, (p. 8,) is taken, without acknowledgement, from Eden's Translation, (fol. 118, 119.) As to the "Discourse" relative to the same navigator, given in Hakluyt, (vol. iii. p. 6,) he takes from Eden, (fol. 255,) every thing but the erroneous reference to the second volume of Ramusio, which is a blunder of his own, into which also he has led his copyist Purchas. The voyages to Guinea, found in Eden, (fol. 343,) are original, and were drawn up, as he says, "that sum memorie thereof might remayne to our posteritie, if eyther iniquitie of tyme, consumynge all things, or ignorance creepynge in by barbarousnesse, and contempte of knowledge, should hereafter bury in oblivion so woorthy attemptes." Hakluyt, in making the transfer to his work, (vol. ii. part ii. p. 9,) retains the introductory expressions, without the slighest acknowledgement, so that our gratitude is directed to him, for having preserved an account of

these voyages, and for the patriotic zeal which prompted the undertaking. This is the more calculated to mislead, as, immediately after these voyages, credit is given to Eden, (p. 10,) for a description of Africa; and the reader, noting a temper apparently so fair and candid, at once pronounces original, whatever is not expressly referred to others. There is a voyage in Hakluyt, (vol. ii. part ii. p. 14,) designated at the head of the page, as that of "M. John Lok," and the writer says, "my chief intent hath been to shew the course of the same, according to the observation and ordinary custom of the Mariners; and as I received it at the hands of an expert Pilot, being one of the chief in this voyage." No one, unacquainted with Eden, would suppose, that this is copied, verbatim, from his volume, (fol. 349.) So, in reference to the unfortunate Portuguese, Pinteado, who sailed from Portsmouth, when we find in Hakluyt, (vol. ii. part ii. p. 14,) "all these aforesaid writings, I saw under seal in the house of my friend, Nicholas Liete, with whom Pinteado left them," there is no intimation, that he is merely repeating the language of Eden, (fol. 349.) Again, in Eden, (fol. 357,) is a curious account, which Chancellor gave him, of a waterspout, by which Cabot had been placed in imminent peril. This also is found in Hakluyt, (vol. ii. part ii. p. 21,) without acknowledgement, and wears there the appearance of a direct communication to himself.

Somewhat less than one-half of Eden's work, is occupied with an English version of Peter Martyr. Then come translations from the most rare and curious accounts of voyages and travels, Oviedo, Gomara, Ramusio, Pigafeta, Americus Vesputius, Munster, Bastaldus, Ziglerus, Cardanus, Paulus Jovius, Sigismondus Liberus, Vannuccius Biringuczius Amongst the articles most worthy of attention, may be mentioned those on metals and the working of mines in ancient and modern times, (fol. 326, to 342,) on the prices of precious stones and spices, and the trade in spices, (fol. 233, 244,) on Russia, (fol. 249, to 263,) and on the manners and customs of the Tartars, (fol. 299, &c.)

The circumstances which first inspired the author with a reso

lution to prepare the work, are told with much simplicity. He was a spectator of the public entry into London of Philip and Mary. As the splendid pageant swept by, in all its pomp, pride, and circumstance, amidst the tumultuous acclamations of the populace, the array of functionaries civil and military, and the deafening bursts of martial music, he describes himself as almost lifted out of self-command by the excitement of the scene, and at the crisis when the royal pair actually passed near him he was ready to break out into some wild sally of enthusiasm. Restrained, happily, from this piece of indiscretion, he resolved to set about some work which he might, in due season, exhibit as the offspring of his teeming loyalty, and humbly crave for it the royal blessing.*

Of the success of the work, on its appearance, we know nothing; but it seems to have struggled with many difficulties in its progress to the light, and of these not the least mortifying to Eden must have been the disheartening timidity of his publishers. It were injustice not to render a passing tribute of gratitude to the liberality of one of them, "Master Toy," without, however, attempting to lift the veil which a gentle and generous temper has thrown over the infirmity of his associates. Eden's pecuniary disinterestedness, his earnest hope that his labours might be useful to others, and his honest anxiety for merited reputation serve to heighten our indignation at the manner in which he

"Cum in primo vestro ingressu in hanc celeberriman Londini urbem (illustrissimi Principes) cernerem quanto omnium applausu, populi concursu, ac civium frequentia, quanto insuper spectaculorum nitore, nobilium virorum splendore, equorum multitudine, tubarum clangore, cæterisque magnificis pompis ac triumphis, pro dignitate vestra accepti estis dum omnes quod sui est officii facere satagebant, ubi in tanta hominum turba vix unus reperitatur qui non aliquid agendo adventum vestrum gratulabatur, cœpi et ego quoque aliorum exemplo (proprius præsertim ad me accedentibus Celsitudinibus vestris) tanto animi ardore ad aliquid agendum accendi ne solus in tanta hominum corona otiosus viderer quod vix me continebam quin in aliquam extemporariam orationem temere crupuissem, nisi et præsentiæ vestræ majestas et mea me obscuritas a tam audaci facinore deteruissent. Verum cum postea penitius de hac re mecum cogitassem, &c."

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has been undeservedly supplanted and thrust from the public view.

"The partners at whose charge this booke is prynted, although the coppy, whereof they have wrought a long space have cost them nought, doo not, nevertheless, cease, dayly, to caule uppon me to make an end and proceede no further; affirmynge that the booke will bee of so great a pryce, and not every man's money; fearying rather theyr losse and hynderance than carefull to be beneficial to other, as is now in manner the trade of all men, which ordinarie respecte of private commoditie hath at thys time so lyttle moved me, I take God to witness that for my paynes and travayles taken herein, such as they bee, I may uppon just occasion thynke myself a looser manye wayes, except such men of good inclination as shall take pleasure and feele sum commoditie in the knowledge of these thinges shall thynke me woorthy theyr goode worde, wherewith I shall repute myselfe and my travayles so abundantly satisfyed, that I shall repute other men's gains a recompense for my losses." (fol. 303.) Again," and to have sayde thus much of these vyages it may suffice; for, (as I have sayd before) wheras the partners at whose charges thys booke is prynted, wolde long since have me proceaded no further, I had not thought to have wrytten any thynge of these viages, [to Guinea] but that the liberalitie of Master Toy encouraged me to attempt the same, whiche I speake not to the reproache of other in whom I thynke there lacked no good wyll, but that they thought the booke would be too chargeable." (fol. 360.)

Compare the modest and ingenuous language of this excellent personage with that of the well-fed and boastful Hakluyt, who, in the dedication of his translation of Galvano to Sir Robert Cecil, says, "And for ought I can see, there had no great matter yet come to light if Myselfe had not undertaken that heavie burden, being never therein entertained to any purpose, until I had recourse unto yourself, of whose special favour and bountiful patronage I have been often much encouraged, &c. &c."

But the work is rendered yet more precious by information scattered through it, derived from the great seamen of that day with whom the author's turn of mind led him to associate. Sebastian Cabot he seems to have known familiarly, and one chapter (fol. 249) has, for part of its title, "lykewyse of the vyages of that woorthy owlde man Sebastian Cabote, yet livynge in England, and at this present the governor of the Company of the Marchantes of Cathay, in the citie of London."

In one of his marginal notes (fol. 268) he gives us Cabot's statement to him, that the icebergs were of fresh, and not of salt water; and again in the marginal note (fol. 255), we have what Cabot said as to the quantity of grain raised by him in the La Plata, corrected afterwards at fol. 317. Speaking of the voyage to the North-East projected by Cabot, in which Richard Chancellor, as pilot major, accompanied Sir Hugh Willoughby, and succeeded, after the death of his gallant but unfortunate commander, in opening the trade to Russia, Eden says, (fol. 256,) “And wheras I have before made mention howe Moscovia was in our time discovered by Richard Chancellor, in his viage toward Cathay, by the direction and information of the sayde master Sebastian, who longe before had this secreate in his mynde, I shall not neede here, &c." The account of Cabot's escape from the waterspout (fol. 357) has been already adverted to.

We may note here, that Forster, in his "Voyage and Discoveries in the North," (p. 269,) gravely considers, and almost sanctions, a doubt of the French writer Bergeron whether the Sebastian Cabot so conspicuous in the reign of Edward VI. could have been the same who discovered the continent of America. It may serve to shew the very slight preparation with which many works of reputation on these subjects have been got up, that in the course of the argument no reference is made to Eden, who conveys from the lips of the "good owlde man" himself, interesting particulars of his earlier voyages! So also, in a more recent work,* the following expressions are found, (p. 361,) "We must now return to the period of the first attempt to find out a NorthEast passage to India. A society of merchants had been formed in London for this purpose. Sebastian Cabot, either the son or the grandson of John Cabot, and who held the situation of grand pilot of England, under Edward VI., was chosen governor of this society !"

* Historical Sketch of the Progress of Discovery, Navigation, and Commerce, from the earliest records to the beginning of the nineteenth century. By William Stevenson, Esq., forming vol. xviii. of Kerr's Collection of Voyages, &c.

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