Luther uses himself for a poor woman.
The original of this letter, which has only recently been discovered, can be found in the Royal State Archives at Danzig, Urkunden- Schieblade CV A. 29113. Printed in Erl. Briefw., vol. IX, p. 244.
To the honorable and prudent gentlemen, mayor and council of the city of Gdansk, my favorable gentlemen and good friends.
Grace and peace in Christ. Respectable, careful, dear gentlemen! Although I, perhaps unknown to E. F. or without any special reputation, should abstain from writing to E. F., but because I asked for it so diligently as for a service owed to my neighbor: I do not know how to refuse it, therefore I ask that E. F. will favorably grant it to me. There is a poor woman here, Elfe Mülmans, Andreas Bühe, your town citizen's (called Hans Buhe) son, legitimate husband, with whom she has produced a legitimate daughter, called Magdalena 2c.She has learned that the said Hans Bohe has died, and that his property has been transferred to her daughter Magdalena, and because the latter has also died in God, such property should fall to this Else as her rightful mother; she has therefore asked me to write to the F. H. and ask that the F. H. help her to obtain such property and that it be given to her.
Now there is no doubt in my mind that E. F., as the sensible and right-loving, will know how to keep all due respect in this. But besides this, if it may help a little, my humble request is that Mrs. F. be all the more inclined to good women's things, since she is truly poor and needy, and from now on comes closer to old age every day, and can hardly support herself in such dwindling time, and even though there is much and much dear poverty among us, and yet from all countries it comes with even greater poverty, God knows that and it is true! Therefore, the Fathers will not only provide help, but also alms, where they can help the poor women to the goods that are pleasing to God. To the same E. F. together with your whole town, salvation and welfare be ordered, amen. At Wittemberg on: Friday after St. Luciae. s13. Dec.) 1532.
E. F. williger
Martinus Luther, Doctor.
Addendum to the letters from 1531 to 1536.