Church. In 1656 he forbade even
Lutheran services in private houses; but the Company would
not sustain this, though they upheld him in sending
Gutwasser back to Holland in 1659.

(2) "The Mill."

(3) Johann Ernst Gutwasser.

We addressed ourselves, therefore, to his Honor the Director-General,
the Burgomasters and Schepens of this place,(1) and presented the
enclosed petition. As a result thereof, the Lutheran pastor was summoned
before their Honors and asked with what intentions he had come here, and
what commission and credentials he possessed. He answered that he had
come to serve here as a Lutheran preacher, but that he had no other
commission than a letter from the Lutheran Consistory at Amsterdam
to the Lutheran congregation here. He was then informed by the Hon.
authorities here, that he must abstain from all church services, and
from the holding of any meetings, and not even deliver the letter which
he brought from the Lutherans at Amsterdam without further orders; but
that he must regulate himself by the edicts of this province against
private conventicles. He promised to do this, adding however that with
the next ships he expected further orders and his regular commission.
In the meantime, however, we had the snake in our bosom. We should have
been glad if the authorities here had opened that letter of the Lutheran
Consistory, to learn therefrom the secret of his Mission, but as yet
they have not been willing to do this.

(1) New Amsterdam had received a municipal constitution, of
about the type usual in the Netherlands, though somewhat
less liberal, in 1653.

We then demanded that our authorities here should send back the Lutheran
preacher, who had come without the consent of the Messrs. Directors, in
the same ship in which he had come, in order to put a stop to this work,
which they evidently intended to prosecute with a hard Lutheran head,
in spite of and against the will of our magistrates; for we suspect that
this one has come over to see whether he can pass, and be allowed to
remain here, and thus to lay the foundation for further efforts; but we
do not yet know what we can accomplish.

Domine Gideon Schaats(1) wrote to you last year about the congregation
at Rensselaerswyck or Beverwyck, as he intends to do again. We know
nothing otherwise than that the congregation there is in a good
condition; that it is growing vigorously, so that it is almost as
stro