QVODLIBETS,
LATELY COME OVER
FROM NEW BRITANIOLA,
OLD NEWFOVNDLAND.
Epigrams and other small parcels, both
The first foure Bookes being the Authors owne: the
With two Epistles of that excellently wittie Doctor
All of them
Morall and Diuine.
rest translated out of that Excellent Epigrammatist,
Mr. John Owen, and other rare Authors.
Francis Rablais: Translated out of his French at large.
Composed and done at Harbor-Grace in
Britaniola, anciently called Newfound-Land.
By R. Hayman.
Sometimes Gouernour of the Plantation there.
L O N D O N,
Printed by Elizabeth All-de,
for Roger
Michell, dwelling in Pauls Church-yard,
at the signe of the Bulls-head. 1628.
The First Booke of Qvodlibets
[M]AY it please your most Excellent Maiestie, this last right
worthy attribute of yours (no way insinuated, but ivstly affixed
to your more ancient stile) perswades these unworthy papers to
presume (with your graciovs leaue and permission) to take the
hardines to kisse your sacred hands; hoping of the like successe,
that some vnripe eares of corne, brought by me from the cold
Country of Newfound-land, receiued from some honest, well-
minded louers of that action when they saw them : who with much-
affected ioy often beholding them, tooke mvch comfort in what
they saw : but more, when they suppos'd it might be better'd, by
industry, care, and honestie. These few bad vnripe Rimes of mine
(comming from thence) are in all humility presented with the like
intendiment to your Maiestie, to testifie that the Aire there is
not so dull, or maleuolent, but that if better wits were
transplanted thither, neither the Summers heat would dilate them,
nor the Winters cold benumme them, but that they might in full
vigovr flourish to good purpose. For if I now growne dull and
aged, could doe somewhat, what will not sharper, younger, freer
inventions performe there? They would not walke as I here doe,
with short tvrnes, leaning sometimes on others inventions,
skipping weakly from bough to bough; but with large walkes, with
long, and strong flights. I svppose it not fit at this time (bvt
attending the svccess of this presvmption) in some other larger
manner to make knowne vnto your Maiestie, the inestimable riches
of the Seas circuling that land: The hopefull improuements of the
maine Land thereof: The more then probable, vnualuable hidden
treasures therein: The infinite aboundance of combustible fierie
materials fit for such an imployment. It is [ii] only
the Aire at this time I desire to dignifie, and that which is
within that Horizon: Yet is my proofe rather in hope of
others, then in any actuated performance of mine owne. If your
Maiestie will be pleased to giue credit to your meanest subject,
I may ingage my selfe on this asseueration, That not only in this
vnprofitable (though not vnpleasant) Art, better wits would
thriue there: but all other sollid learning would walke vprightly
without conuvlsions. I cannot but know how almost all your Royall
houres are taken vp in most Reall, serious, sollid imploiments:
did I therefore imagine, that either your Maiestie could, or
graciously would vouchsafe the reading of these; they would be
found some mine owne, the rest, Translations. Meane and vnworthy
though they are, yet because some of them were borne, and the
rest did first speake English, in that Land whereof your
graciovs Maiestie is the right, and lawfull Soueraigne,
and King, by ancient descent and primary possession, and being
the first fruits of this kind, that euer visited this Land, out
of that Dominion of yours; I thought it my duty, to present and
to prostrate these with my selfe at your Royall feete: For what I
haue mistakingly offended herein, or shall hereafter, I humbly
beseech your Maiesties gracious, mercifull, generall, indulgence
and pardon, vnfeinedly beseeching God to blesse your Maiesty with
aboundance of all Earthly and Heauenly blessings. And that you
may see an happy successe of all your Forraigne Plantations,
especially of that of Newfound-land, I remaine
