KD 47149 (1),

UNIVERS, Y
LIBRARY

50*79

CONTAINING DIVERS INGENIOUS THEORIES AND PHILOSO-

PHIC SPECULATIONS, CONCERNING THE CREATION AND

POPULATION OF THE WORLD, AS CONNECTED WITH THE

HISTORY OF NEW YORK.

CHAP. I.-Description of the World

33

43

CHAP. II.-Cosmogony, or Creation of the World; with

a multitude of excellent theories, by which the creation

of a world is shown to be no such difficult matter as

common folk would imagine

CHAP. III.-How that famous navigator, Noah, was

shamefully nick-named; and how he committed an

unpardonable oversight in not having four sons. With

the great trouble of philosophers caused thereby, and

the discovery of America

56

CHAP. IV. Showing the great difficulty Philosophers

have had in peopling America-And how the Abori-

CONTENTS.

gines came to be begotten by accident-to the great

relief and satisfaction of the Author
65

CHAP. V.-In which the Author puts a mighty question

to the rout, by the assistance of the Man in the Moon

-which not only delivers thousands of people from

great embarrassment, but likewise concludes this intro-

ductory book

BOOK II.

75

TREATING OF THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE PROVINCE

OF NIEUW NEDERLANDTS.

CHAP. I.-In which are contained divers reasons why a

man should not write in a hurry. Also of Master

Hendrick Hudson, his discovery of a strange country

-and how he was magnificently rewarded by the mu-

nificence of their High Mightinesses

99

CHAP. II.-Containing an account of a mighty Ark which

floated, under the protection of St. Nicholas, from

Holland to Gibbet Island-the descent of the strange

Animals therefrom-a great victory, and a description

of the ancient village of Communipaw

114

CHAP. III. In which is set forth the true art of making

a bargain-together with the miraculous escape of a

great Metropolis in a fog-and the biography of cer-

tain heroes of Communipaw

124

135

CHAP. IV.-How the heroes of Communipaw voyaged

to Hell-Gate, and how they were received there

CHAP. V. How the heroes of Communipaw returned

somewhat wiser than they went-and how the sage

Oloffe dreamed a dream—and the dream that he

dreamed

151

CHAP. VI.-Containing an attempt at etymology-and

of the founding of the great city of New-Amsterdam

158

CHAP. VII.-How the city of New-Amsterdam waxed

great, under the protection of Oloffe the Dreamer 169

CONTENTS.

BOOK III.

IN WHICH IS RECORDED THE GOLDEN REIGN OF WOUTER

VAN TWILLER.

CHAP. I.—Of the renowned Wouter Van Twiller, his un-

paralleled virtues-as likewise his unutterable wisdom

in the law case of Wandle Schoonhoven and Barent

Bleecker-and the great admiration of the public

thereat

178

CHAP. II.—Containing some account of the grand coun-

cil of New-Amsterdam, as also divers especial good

philosophical reasons why an alderman should be fat-

with other particulars touching the state of the pro-

190

vince

CHAP. III.-How the town of New-Amsterdam arose

out of mud, and came to be marvellously polished and

polite-together with a picture of the manners of our

great great grandfathers
204

CHAP. IV.-Containing further particulars of the Golden

Age, and what constituted a fine Lady and Gentleman

in the days of Walter the Doubter.

215

CHAP. V.—In which the reader is beguiled into a delect-

able walk, which ends very differently from what it

commenced

224

CHAP. VI.-Faithfully discribing the ingenious people of

Connecticut and thereabouts-Showing, moreover, the

true meaning of liberty of conscience, and a curious de-

vice among these sturdy barbarians, to keep up a har-

mony of intercourse, and promote population

CHAP. VII.-How these singular barbarians turned out to

be notorious squatters. How they built air castles, and

attempted to initiate the Nederlanders in the mystery

of bundling

232

240

CHAP. VIII.-How the fort Goed Hoop was fearfully

beleaguered-how the renowned Wouter fell into a

profound doubt, and how he finally evaporated.. 248

CONTENTS.

BOOK IV.

CONTAINING THE CHRONICLES OF THE REIGN OF WILLIAM

THE TESTY.

258

CHAP. I. Showing the nature of history in general: con-

taining furthermore the universal acquirements of Wil-

liam the Testy, and how a man may learn so much as

to render himself good for nothing.

CHAP. II.-In which are recorded the sage projects of a

ruler of universal genius. The art of fighting by pro-

clamation, and how that the valiant Jacobus Van

Curlet came to be foully dishonoured at fort Goed

Hoop

272

CHAP. III.-Containing the fearful wrath of William the

Testy, and the great dolour of the New-Amsterdam-

mers; because of the affair of fort Goed Hoop. And,

moreover, how William the Testy did strongly fortify

the city. Together with the exploits of Stoffel Brin-

kerhoff

282

CHAP. IV. Philosophical reflections on the folly of

being happy in times of prosperity.-Sundry troubles

on the sonthern frontiers.-How William the Testy

had well nigh ruined the province through a cabalistic

word. As also the secret expedition of Jan Jansen

Alpendam, and his astonishing reward

294

CHAP. V.-HOW William the Testy enriched the province

by a multitude of laws, and came to be the patron of

lawyers and bum-bailiffs. And how the people became

exceedingly enlightened and unhappy under his in-

-

307

structions.

CHAP. VI. Of the great pipe-plot—and of the dolorous

perplexities into which William the Testy was thrown

by reason of his having enlightened the multitude 319

CHAP. VII.-Containing divers fearful accounts of Bor-

der wars, and the flagrant outrages of the Moss-

troopers of Connecticut-with the rise of the great

Amphyctionic council of the east, and the decline of

William the Testy

329