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I born at York, in the year 1632, of a reputable family. My father was a native of Bremen, who by merchandizing at Hull for some time, gained a very plentiful fortune. He married my mother at York, who received her firſt breath in that country; and as her maiden name was Robinſon, I was called Robinſon Kreutznaer; which not being eaſily pronounced in the Englith tongue, we are commonly known by the name of Cruſoe.

I was the youngeſt of three brothers. The eldeſt was a lieutenant-colonel in Lockhart’s regiment, but ſlain by the Spaniards: what became of the other I could never learn.

No charge or pains were wanting in my education.—My father deſigned me for the law, yet nothing would ſerve me but I muſt go to ſea, both againſt the will of my father, the tears of my mother, and the entreaties of friends. One morning my father expoſtulated very warmly with me: What reaſon, ſays he, have you to leave your native country, where there muſt be a more certain proſpect of content and happineſs, to enter into a wandering condition of uneafineſs and uncertainty? He recommended to me Augur’s wiſh, “Neither to deſire poverty nor riches:” that a middle ſtate of life was the moſt happy, and that the high towering thoughts of raiſing our condition by wandering abroad, were ſurrounded with miſery and danger, and often ended with conſuſion and diſappointment. I entreat you, nay, I command you, (ſays he,) to deſiſt from theſe intentions. Confider your elder brother, who laid down his life for his honour, or rather loſt it for his diſobedience to my will. If you will go, (added he,) my prayers ſhall however be offered for your preſervation; but a time may come, when deſolate, oppreſſed, or forſaken, you