It is not known to me (wlio by Grace am in the 16*^ year of my assistance in our Ducal Consistory) Neither is known to my Colleagues here (with most part of whom I have had occasion to discourse & to Communicate your letter to) either in earlier or

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later years that here has been a Minister of the Gospel who Caird himself by the name of John Ludwig Hofgutli or of any of the Circumstances whicli you have been pleased to write to us of So tliat the whole of it seems to Turn out a fallacious Conterfeit & a fait thing of him.

To demonstrate tliis more especially I liave the Hon"* to assure your most Reverence, That at Great Ingersheim (a village in our Diocese of Bietiglieim & distant but five Miles from Stuttgard) There never was known an Especial, But at all times only has had a Simple INIinister of a village, For the Office of Especial, Deacon or Super-Intendant (which are Synonymous) Has always been Fix'd at Bietigheim having jurisdiction of the whole Dioces of Bietigheim as over the office of minister of Great-Ingersheim, which belongs to this Diocese, But in Both Places & throughout all the Lands of this Dukedom never has hem known a minister of that name in the memory of man.

What that man alledges farther, That he is moved wholly for the sake of Strenghning Preaching against the Roman Catliolicks, That a lesser Office was to have been given to him by His Serene highness (our Duke) But tliat he refused to accept of it. Stands also on an audacious & slight foundation. Inasmuch as we have reason to thank God Almighty for the Continuance of liis Grace in Preserving the Ancient Ordinances of our Cliurch in the Dukedom of Wurtemburg and with Humble Thanks praise the Magnanimity of our most Precious Princes that at this Time no such Thing in any manner of way is hkely to prevail again.