this account of richard hakluyt and his narratives of english exploration and adventure, from the earliest records to the establishment of the english colonies in north america, has been prepared at the instance of edwin d. mead, the fine mainspring of the far-reaching system of historical study widely known as the “old south work,” for the instruction of young folk, by engaging methods, in genuine american history. the purpose of the book was to draw the youth of to-day to a source of american history of first importance, and a work of eternal interest and value.
to this end i have sought to utilize the huge foolscap volumes of the principal navigations and to summarize or compress the narratives into a coherent story from the earliest adventures chiefly for conquest to those for discovery and expansion of trade, and finally for colonization, down to the settlement of virginia. the american note is dominant throughout this animated story of daring, pluck, courage, genuine heroism, and splendid nerve displayed by the english captains of adventure and discovery north, east, and west.
i have endeavored also to recall hakluyt’s significant work in his publications which preceded the principal navigations, and in his equally important personal efforts to forward american colonization by england, in order to re-present him in his true position, recognized by the earlier historians—that of a vifounder hand in hand with raleigh of the english colonies, out of which developed the national life of the united states.
the dictum of william robertson in his eighteenth century history of america (1777), that to hakluyt england was more indebted for her american possessions “than to any other man of that age,” was sustained by sir clements robert markham, the english traveller, geographer, and historian, upon the occasion, in 1896, of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the hakluyt society, of which sir clements was then the president, when he said: “virtually raleigh and hakluyt were the founders of those colonies which eventually formed the united states. as americans revere the name of walter raleigh, they should give an equal place to richard hakluyt.”
sir clements further observed: “excepting, of course, shakspere and the dii majores, there is no man of the age of elizabeth to whom posterity owes a deeper debt of gratitude than to richard hakluyt, the saviour of the records of our explorers and discoverers by land and sea.”
americans may well claim the pride of inheritance in these brave annals of adventure on untried seas and to unknown lands. hakluyt’s quaint language ought not to be a hard nut to crack for the american boy when such rich meat is within.
e. m. b.
