Intercession for the fish master's widow.
The original is in the Weimar Archives, Reg. Aa, pag. 412. VIII, but only with original signatures. Printed by Burkhardt, p. 288.
God's grace and peace through Christ before. Honorable, strict, especially favorable friend! After I, Doctor Martinus Luther, recently asked the most noble, highborn Elector of Saxony, our most gracious Lord, for Mr. (before) Jobsten, Fischmeister, blessed, widow and orphan, and his ch. G. also gave me a gracious and consoling answer at that time, but we are now both reported that, perhaps due to the prevention of our most gracious lord, in 4) [the]
4) This "in" will be displaced in Burkhardt; it comes before "perhaps".
Letters from the year 1537. No. 2387. 2388. 2389.
For this reason, our very friendly and diligent request to you is that you will faithfully and favorably help the poor widows and orphans reported to our most gracious Lord, so that they may be graciously provided for, as Mr. Jobst, blessed one, will certainly provide for you completely in his life. Thus it is a great and godly work to help widows (witwyn) and orphans and to serve and support them. This will also be richly rewarded by God, the right eternal Father in Heaven, both temporally and eternally. So we are also kindly willing to deserve you. Date Friday after Leonhardi [Nov. 9] Anno Dmi. 1537.
Martinus Luther, D. Justus Jonas, D., Psrobst^. G. Spalatinus.
No. 2388.