Hakluyt was a clergyman, but his avocation as a geographer and collector, editor and translator of travel narratives, mainly voyages, brought him fame. Much of the value of Hakluyt’s work lies in the fact that he rescued many obscure texts from near oblivion. Hakluyt was an enthusiastic supporter of English colonial ambitions and published his voyages to encourage these ambitions.
This important work contains accounts of English voyages to the Levant, together with documents, letters, letters patent and privileges. It contains descriptions of Cyprus, Chios, Mitylene, Rhodes, Crete and the Morea. The material on Cyprus includes an account of Richard the Lionheart’s sojourn on the island.
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiqves And Discoveries of the English Nation, made by Sea or ouerland, to the remote and farthest distant quarter of the Earth, at any time within the compasse of these 1600.yeres: Diuided into three seuerall Volumes, according to the positions of the Regions, whereunto they were directed. The first Volume containeth the worthy Discoueries, &c. of the English toward the North and Northeast by Sea ... [The Second Volvme Of The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoueries of the English Nation, made by Sea or ouer-land, to the South and South-east parts of the World, at any time within the compasse of these 1600.yeres: Diuided into two seuerall parts: Whereof the first containeth the personall trauels, ... through and within the Streight of Gibraltar ... The second comprehendeth the Voyages ... made without the Streight of Gibraltar ...] Imprinted at London by George Bishop, Ralph Newberie, and Robert Barker. Anno 1599.