De betoverde weereld ... in vier boeken

I still think of it so often, whenever the Hebrew text serves me, what I owe to the name of Alting: but to that of Fullenius I have an even greater share. For besides the fact that I owe my share of Geometry and Arithmetic original: "Meet-en Telkonst" to him through thorough instruction, with special signs of affection; so God provided that I, who during his life had been a son to him by the right of faithful instruction, should nearly ten years after the passing of his noble soul become his Son once more through a desired Marriage. The period of 24 years, which I have since lived under God's grace with Your Honors' only Sister, as my dear Wife, and with Your Honors as much-valued Brothers, brought no small change to our house: of which the world's instability, and the particular unrest in the common Fatherland, was the cause. After the death of our Dear Mother, Madam EBEL van HINKENA, in the 14th year of her Christian widowhood, barely 18 months before the greatest need (so the righteous are snatched away before the evil!), one saw her 3 Sons, like arrows from the hand of a hero (these are Solomon's words in the 127th Psalm), the eldest at that time first Burgomaster and Councilor of the City; the second already permitted to the Pulpit; the third still in the practice of the University, leading a band of Select Men Keurlingen militia recruits of 120 heads, as Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign, the first from all Frisian cities, bravely marching against the enemy: taking the way through the Church, to carry the Bible-laws of War with them from my instruction. Two years later, a heavy storm against our Church, and me in particular, having burst out before and then calming; afterward, when the Fatherland reached peace, it burst out even more fiercely: causing me to seek a quieter harbor across the sea, which I first found at Loenen. Your sister went there as willingly as she was faithful to her Husband, to share the sweet and the sour with him. Yet the Sea did not separate the hearts of you dear Brothers: except indeed Death; which overtook SETHUS the middle one, at Riedt, the second place of his Church ministry. That was when the eldest was appointed to the Father's office in the University, barely 28 years after his passing: for which he left the City Government. Which naturally fell to the youngest; and at the same time, with completed term, the Eldership

gave the City and Church testimony of the faithfulness of the FULLENII The Fullenius family. So to the public, as also to me, highly esteemed and beloved Brothers; and to mine, who are also at once yours. I have the precious pledges of your faithful and sincere friendship in possession: your only and heartily beloved Sister, who loves you both so tenderly in return, with three beloved Children, who enjoy so many signs of their Uncles' favor; whom they also, in the event of the early death of their Parents, look toward as Fathers. What Fathers do I then seek now for this paper-child referring to this book, other than those who shall still be of my flesh and bone, and have long been so? Take then, much-valued Brothers, this on top of the rest: even if it is not received with such a measure of love as the others, so that you would see no grief in it; I hold myself content, if it may only please Your Honors: to whom I wish longer life, peace, and happiness from the bottom of my heart.

With the same words, neither more nor less, much-valued Brothers, as in the first printing of Leeuwarden, I have addressed Your Honors above: so that everyone may see how far from the truth it is, that which others have willfully told without reading, claiming I had said certain things; thinking that it was for some unknown reason that I had left out that Dedicatory letter from the second printing. Truly there was no other reason than that each part was published separately, and the Dedication was fitted to both together; and therefore could have no suitable place as long as the second part was not with it. But the printing and the sale went forward so quickly that it passed me by, hindered by unusual business. Thus I come somewhat afterward, in the reprinting of both books, to present the aforementioned letter with your names before it again. Also with your permission (which I do not doubt) I wish to choose your own Sister as a Guardian for my Book, alongside such two Guardians as I recognize in Your Honors: and to her, while she keeps you company with both daughters for the relaxation of pressed minds, I give my hearty greetings with these verses.