[ 126 ] STEVE J. STERN Wilhelmus Van Nieuwenhuysen of New York City led a fight against Van Rensselaer on the grounds that the classis of Amsterdam had not ordained him. Called before a council meeting, Van Nieuwenhuysen and other church officials felt compelled "to allow in words, what is denyde in writing, viz1 That a Minister Ordayned in England ... is every way Capable &c!' Van Nieuwenhuysen found a middle position, stating that Anglican ordination qualified one to administer the sacraments of a Dutch church "when he has promised to conduct himself in his service according to the Constitution of the Reformed Church of Holland!' Similarly, claimed Van Nieuwenhuysen, ordination in Holland qualified a clergyman to administer sacraments in Anglican churches if he promised to conform to Anglican rules. When, on October 2,1675, Van Rensselaer promised to conform "to the public Church service and discipline of the Reformed Church of Holland" the controversy seemed resolved.31 Despite this formula for reconciliation, tension persisted in New York in 1676, an aftermath of the loyalty oath and Van Rensselaer incidents. Van Nieuwenhuysen predicted with some exaggeration that "the unprecedented proceedings against the inhabitants in connection with the change of government" might lead some of the Dutch to leave New York City.32 Albany, resentful of Andros's hostile treatment of Van Nieuwenhuysen, accepted Van Rensselaer only reluctantly. In August two New York City merchants visiting Albany, Jacob Leisler and Jacob Milborne, complained that Van Rensselaer preached heterodox doctrines. Rev. Gideon Schaats readily agreed. Albany's magistrates tried but failed to block the build-up of tension. They confined Van Rensselaer to his home when he refused to post £ 1,500 sterling or to drop his charges of slander against Leisler and Milborne. Andros ordered Van Rensselaer freed, and Dutch church officials, hoping to avoid another confrontation with Andros, quickly agreed to find a basis of reconciliation with Van Rensselaer. Andros finally acted to ease the friction generated by the Van Rensselaer affair by ousting him 31 N.Y. Col. Docs., Ill, 225; Ecc. Rec, I, 677, 681, 680, 682; Doc. Hist. N.Y., III, 527. See also Leder, "The Unorthodox Domine: Nicholas Van Rensselaer" New York History, XXXV (April 1954), 167-69. Van Rensselaer had befriended Charles II in 1658 by telling the then exiled monarch that he had had a vision that Charles would once again rule England. 32 Van Nieuwenhuysen to Classis of Amsterdam, May 30,1676, Ecc. Rec, I, 686.