PURCHAS, SAMUEL, an English divine, famous for
compiling a valuable collection of voyages, was born in
1577, at Thackfield in Essex. After studying at Cam-
bridge, he obtained the vicarage of Eastwood in his na-
tive county; but leaving that cure to his brother, he set-
tled in London, in order to carry on the great work in
which he was engaged. He published the first volume
in folio, 1613, and the four last, 12 years after, under
the title of Purchas his Pilgrimage, or Relations of the
world, and the Religions observed in all ages and places.
Meanwhile he was collated to the rectory of St Mar-
tin's, Ludgate, in London, and made chaplain to Dr
Abbot, archbishop of Canterbury. His Pilgrimage, and
the learned Hackluyt's Voyages, led the way to all the
other collections of that kind, and have been justly valued
and esteemed. But unhappily, by his publishing, he in-
volved himself in debt: he did not, however, die in pris-
on, as some have asserted; but at his own house, about
the year 1628.