Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrims Containing a History of the World in Sea Voyages and Land Travels by Englishmen and others

Abstract

SAMUEL PURCHAS, son of George Purchas, Yeoman, was born at Thaxted in Essex. The date of his birth is uncertain; in his Marriage Allegation, dated 2nd December, 1601, his age is given at 'about 27,' but in the Thaxted Baptismal Register the date of his baptism is entered as '20th November, 1577.' The use of the word 'about' points to some uncertainty in the mind of the writer, and it is probable that his baptism took place shortly after his birth, and that at the time of his marriage he was really only in his twenty-fifth year. This is confirmed by the statement on the engraved title page of his' Pilgrimes,' that at the date of its publication in 1625 he was aged forty-eight. He was educated at St. John's College, Cambridge, where he took the degree of M.A. in 1600, -and afterwards proceeded to that of B.D. In 1601 he was Curate of Purleigh in Essex, where he married in December of that year Jane Lease, daughter of Vincent Lease of Westhall, Co. Suffolk, Yeoman. Both Purchas and his bride are described as household servants of Dr. Freake, Parson of Purleigh. On the 24th Aqgust, 1604, he was instituted to the Vicarage of Eastwood on the presentation of the King, and there he remained until 1614.