The International Prester John Project: How A Global Legend Was Created Across Six Centuries

Principall Navigations

The principall navigations, voiages, and discoveries of the English nations: made by sea or over land to the most remote and farthest distant quarters of the earth at any time within the compasse of these 1500 years : divided into three several parts according to the positions of the regions whereunto they were directed; the first containing the personall travels of the English unto Indæa, Syria, Arabia ... the second, comprehending the worthy discoveries of the English towards the north and northeast by sea, as of Lapland ... the third and last, including the English valiant attempts in searching almost all the corners of the vaste and new world of America ... whereunto is added the last most renowned English navigation round about the whole globe of the earth (1589-1600)

In introducing his discussion of Hakluyt's text, Brooks (p. 148) cites James P. Helfers, who distinguishes The Principall Navigations as “the supreme chronicle of the English Renaissance age of discovery, and a new kind of literary document as well.” Hakluyt's texts, including, through the 1598 edition, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville. 

It contains excerpts from William Waterman's Fardle of Facions, itself a translation of Johan Boemus's Ominum Gentium Mores, Leges and Ritus. Hakluyt's work is continued by Samuel Purchas. 

Read the Principall Navigations in facsimile. 

For more on the editorial strategies of Hakluyt, see Helfers. 

Read about the Hakluyt Editorial Project. 

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