A Simple Woman in Times of Change –
The Autobiography of Catharinen Becker
A Fictional Peasant Woman from the Early 16th Century
by
Nikki Judge
On this 21st day of October in the year of our Lord 1560, unto the Secretary to His Grace Henry V of Mecklenburg1 do I, Catharinen Becker, your most humble servant, provide the requested biography of the experiences of my life, focusing on the impact of the religious and political events on the lives of peasant women. Of myself: I have had the blessing of a happy family. My father, Lukke Becker, has been the Lord Duke’s forest master for many years and I became the wife of Godeke Becker on my 14th birthday on May 2, 1515. We lived with my parents until my 16th year when we moved to our own cottage on the outskirts of Federow, from which my husband easily accesses the lands for which he is responsible. My mother, Cordt Vogelsank,2 learned to read as a child when her mother worked in a great house and she has taught all her children the same ability. I have given birth to five children, three of whom have survived to adulthood. I am happy to have grandchildren that come to me for stories and lessons – especially for reading.
We of the peasantry live a life far removed from those of the great Lords and Ladies who rule over us. My life has always centered on the home and hearth with which God has blessed me.3 My lord husband cares for the Ducal hunting lands near Lake Muritz, having taken over the hunting lands cared for by my father in 1540.4 It is easy to give him the honorific of “lord” as head of our household and master of the hearth for over the years he has become master of my heart. Like most of the women in our village, I spend my time primarily on family matters and the spinning of wool. We often sing the Spinnstuben (spinning songs) or discuss the important events in our lives as we spin or go from one task to another.5 Our lives answer to the seasons with many women helping their husbands in the field in the spring with planting, summer brings the caring of the gardens and preserving the food to get us through the cold of winter. Fall’s harvest is divided between the taxes due the Duke, the communal shares to Federow, and for our household. Winter is the struggle to stay warm and work on handcrafts and the making of tools, preparing for the Spring planting to come.6 We talk of the news of the day and the lives we are living. We share in the deaths and births, tragedies, and good fortune of all in the village.
Our small hamlet has grown considerably in size over the years7 and the men have had to spend time in reaching decisions on some of the issues that face us. We women have taken much to discussing the place we have in the world. We often discuss Goodman Anton Woensam comments on the qualities of a woman8 where he makes it easy for women to know their place by the parts of her body. We complain at the prices that we have to pay for goods we cannot grow or make ourselves. Yet, I remember the happiness when we could start adding to our incomes through sales of extra garden goods, although there are still bad years where it has been difficult to pay the taxes and land fees to His Grace, the Lord Duke.
Though “mere women”9 we still have interest in the outer workings of the world. Many matters of import have touched our little village and choosing which to discuss has been difficult. I have read books printed on the Gutenberg printing press.10 The village women often discuss the hubris of John Calvin (1509-1564)11 and his misogynistic conclusions with vehemence. I have been a witness to the change brought to the village through the auspices of Martin Luther (1483-1546)12 and his 95 Theses13 and the glorious Reformation it aroused through which I know my heart has been changed as I saw the wisdom of man’s value before God. Luther’s forerunnerRudolphus Agricola (1442/3 – 1485)14 also has had a strong impact on the village. Such a matter of pride for many of our region, it has been my honor to enjoy the music which has become a hallmark of our country’s peace.15 I do not have the eloquence of the pamphleteers such as Argula von Grumbach (1492-1568)16 or her Grace, The Duchess Elizabeth von Braunschweig-Luneburg (1510-1558)17 and apologize for that lack and can only hope my simple reporting suits your needs.
I was shocked to have been asked to provide you information on such small things as a peasant woman’s life and thoughts. Were I to say the greatest joy of my life, other than those of the duty a woman holds to her God and to her lord and husband, it would have to be the ability to read and write the language of our country. It is because of this great gift from my mother, who taught me how to read as a young child, that I am able to complete the task you have set before me. Reading has become much more important with the Reformation so that the individual may engage in a personal relationship with God by reading his words. Reading is actually far more prominent than writing now, but more are learning to create the letters as well. While nearly half of the tradesman one would meet are literate, only a very small fraction of peasant women like myself know their letters.18 Many times the women of the village will volunteer to spin my share if I will read to them as they work.
Martin Luther created quite a fuss with his 95 Theses, more formally called his Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences; dated October 31, 1517.19 Luther’s 95 Theses were a list of the issues he believed worthy of debate and discussion for the sake of the Church. Many of us in the village had strayed and purchased indulgences but since reading Luther’s work and discussing it we all realize now how wrong we were. His concern for our immortal soul is well seen in his 67th theses: “The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.”20 We are now conscious of our value and worth in God’s eyes, how we are responsible for the stains we place on our immortal souls, and how we, as the race of man, are given God’s Grace by God and God alone.21 We also realize our responsibility to ourselves and to our fellow man. Only God can make a judgment on man’s soul, we need no Pope in Rome to sell us keys he does not have. Rudolphus Agricola’s22 influence on Luther’s writing is easy to see, especially from his eloquent letters.23 His writings focused on the value of man did much to set the seeds of the reformation of faith and see the rise of the true faith, Protestantism, along with causing many of the wars that have scarred the land.24 We scare ourselves with talk about the acts against the radical Anabaptists who do not believe that the grace of God can be given without consent dooming the poor infants to purgatory.25 I have had the honor of reading Agricola’s De Formando Studio which he published in 1484 and, in fact, we have structured our lessons program for our children with that framework as much as we can.26 It is through the writings of these two men that we have learned that there is value in just being human, a lesson that has truly changed how we see ourselves.
Tempers flare and even fighting has occurred as we have discussed the teachings of the radical reformist John Calvin. His hard line beliefs and strong advocation of predetermination does not sit well with the independent nature of the village. Calvin’s teaching that there are a select few souls predetermined for salvation27 conflicts with Luther’s teaching of our receiving salvation from the hands of God. None of us women, nor their very intelligent husbands, see any real truth to Calvin’s words on womanhood. One of his worst transgressions is shown in his commentary on 1 Timothy 2: “13. For Adam was first created.”28 If man is so superior, why is it that it was given unto woman to bring life into the world? I know Mr. Calvin would condemn me, but as I am old I can admit to not believing in the superiority of the male gender.
Music has been a part of the blood and heart of the German people for centuries. It is with great pride that we hum and sing songs of the people and hear the beauty of the music created and it has been my joy to have added my voice. The minnesingers do not travel to us much anymore, but one of the newer women in the village has had the honor of hearing Hermann the Monk sing. Those few of us that have traveled beyond the village speak to others of a new music that is only intended to be listened to and not sung.29 This new music plays on and pulls the emotions of the person hearing it, thus creating an emotional journey in the music. It has been my honor to hear the works of Master Heinrich Finck’s Ich Stund einem Morgen and Greiner Zanner (for brass quartet)30. So much more than just the music of the religious these glorious sounds truly are a glorification to God in their beauty alone. Music remains a big part of our lives in the village. Work songs are a large portion of how we share the toil of work whether it is harvesting the hay and wheat from the fields or spinning in the shade by the well.
Argula von Grumbach was the wife of Friedrich von Grumbach. A contemporary of Martin Luther she corresponded with him directly regarding Protestantism. She and her husband were under serious scrutiny for promoting the Reformation through writing about it. She also spoke about it considerably in her travels around Southwest Germany. She wrote from her heart and her conviction of the Protestant cause.31 Elizabeth von Braunschweig-Luneburg, daughter of Joachim I, Elector of Brandenburg was much swayed by the Protestant leanings of her mother, Elisabeth, a daughter of the Danish royal house. Following the death of her husband, she used her considerable power as reigning duchess to promote the new religion in her duchy. Her writings consist of many helpful things including songs and prayers for us to use in our services and observations.32 I mention these great and strong women specifically as it was partly through their writings in the pamphlets that we “mere women” of the village were able to connect with the happenings of the outer world.
It is true that there have been tremendous happenings in the outer world that I have not addressed here. We have heard of the great travels of the adventurers from Portugal and Spain but that has little to do with us here in Federow. In the years that I have lived here the ebb and flow of life itself has changed little. We plant extra to make a little more, we watch out for one another and help and do our part in the communal works and we give our due worship to God. However, I think what has changed us most is knowing that we are men and women whose souls, like those of the nobles, can only be judged by God and not by any mere man. This has allowed us to see ourselves in a positive light and move confidently into our futures knowing that the path we trod is not only the right thing as is just, but also to ensure the salvation of our souls by God. That I think is the difference. We are still indebted to His Grace, the Lord Duke for all that we have and for which we are humbly grateful. His Grace’s wisdom in his choices for us is never without good result. I hope that I have answered your questions and that I have been able to allow you a window into the life and heart of our village of Federow.
FOOTNOTES
1Editors, Royalty Guide, Mecklenburg, accessed October 16, 2013,
http://www.royaltyguide.nl/families/families.htm.
2 Joshua Mittleman, the Academy of Saint Gabriel, The Medieval Names Archive, accessed September 10, 2013,
3 Steven Kreis, The History Guide, Lectures on Modern European History, Lecture 3: The Protestant Reformation, Last modified August 3, 2009, accessed October 6, 2013, www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture3c.html
4 Editors, Progenealogists.com, Map of Germany, circa 1600, undated website, accessed October 9, 2013.
http://www.progenealogists.com/images/Meck.gif.
5 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789, pg 136
6 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789, 192-193
7 Kishlansky, Geary, O’Brien, Civilization in the West, Chapter 15, accessed October 10, 2013 (Pearson Education, 2010).
8 Max Geisberg, The German Single-Leaf Woodcut: 1500-1550, revised and edited by Walter L. Strauss. 4 vols. New York: Hacker Art Books, 1974, vol. 4, p. 1511, accessed October 11, 2013.
https://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=3711
9 John Calvin, A Sermon of Maister John Caluine, upon the first Epistle of Paul, to Timothie, published for the benefite and edifying of the Churche of God, translated out of French into English, by L.T. At London, imprinted for G. Bishop at T. Woodcoke, 1579. Website Facsimile accessed October 13, 2013. https://www.truecovenanter.com/calvin/calvin_19_on_Timothy.html
10 Lee M. Pappas and Nicholas C. J. Pappas, History 226: World History from the Renaissance to Imperialism, undated, Internet Reference, accessed September 10, 2013.
11 Chris Trueman, History Learning Site, John Calvin, accessed October 19, 2013, last updated 2013, http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/John_Calvin.htm
12 Chris Trueman, History Learning Site, Martin Luther, accessed October 19, 2013, last updated 2013, http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Martin_Luther0.htm
13 Paul A. Bishop, Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Accessed January 3, 2013, https://www.hccfl.edu/media/173616/ee2luther.pdf.
14 Kirsch, Johann Peter. “Rudolph Agricola.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1, accessed October 17, 2013, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01231b.htm
15 Editors, Goethe Institute, Music in German-speaking territories in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, last modified September 2011, accessed October 10, 2013.
16 Ulrike Zitzlsperger, Mother, Martyr and Mary Magdalene: German Female Pamphleteers and their Self-images. History. Jul2003, Vol. 88 Issue 291, p379-392. 14p., accessed via 360 Link, October 9, 2013.
17 Zitzlsperger, , Mother, Martyr and Mary Magdalene: German Female Pamphleteers and their Self-images. Accessed October 9, 2013.
18 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789. Pgs 120-122.
19 Paul A. Bishop, Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Accessed October 19, 2013,
https://www.hccfl.edu/media/173616/ee2luther.pdf
20 Adolph Spaeth, L.D. Reed, Henry Eyster Jacobs, et. al., Trans, & Eds. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, (Philadelphia: A.J. Holman Company, 1915), Vol1, 29-38, Gutenberg Project, accessed October 6, 2013, http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/274/pg274.html
21 Ibid.
22 Kirsch, Johann Peter. “Rudolph Agricola.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1, accessed October 17, 2013, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01231b.htm
23 Steven Kreis, The History Guide, Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History, Renaissance Humanism, Last modified August 3, 2009, accessed October 6, 2013, www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture3c.html
24 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789. pgs 163-169
25 Lee M. Pappas, et al. History 226: World History from the Renaissance to Imperialism.
26 Ibid.
27 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789, pg 169-171
28 John Calvin, A Sermon of Maister John Caluine, upon the first Epistle of Paul, to Timothie, published for the benefite and edifying of the Churche of God, translated out of French into English, by L.T. At London, imprinted for G. Bishop at T. Woodcoke, 1579. Website Facsimile accessed October 13, 2013, https://www.truecovenanter.com/calvin/calvin_19_on_Timothy.html
29 Editors, Goethe Institut, Music in German-speaking territories in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, last modified September 2011, accessed October 10, 2013.
30 Editors, Allmusic.com, Heinrich FInck discography, accessed October 20, 2013.
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/heinrich-finck-mn0001193841
31 Natalie K. Watson, Feminist Theology (Google eBook), accessed via internet October 20, 2013,
http://books.google.com/books?id=3tUjrKHC6NoC&pg=PA6&dq=Argula+von+Grumbach&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3Th kUoTUKaWDiQLsn4HIBQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Argula%20von%20Grumbach&f=false
32 Editors, Luther2017.com, Duchess Elisabeth of Brunswick-Luneburg, accessed October 19, 2013,
http://www.luther2017.de/en/p/18817/duchess-elisabeth-brunswick-lueneburg
REFERENCES CITED
AllMusic.com, Editors, Heinrich Finck discography, http://www.allmusic.com/artist/heinrich-finck-mn0001193841. Accessed October 19, 2013.
Bishop, Paul A., Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. https://www.hccfl.edu/media/173616/ee2luther.pdf. Accessed January 3, 2013.
Calvin, John, A Sermon of Maister John Caluine, upon the first Epistle of Paul, to Timothie, published for the benefite and edifying of the Churche of God, translated out of French into English, by L.T. At London, imprinted for G. Bishop at T. Woodcoke, 1579. Website Facsimile, https://www.truecovenanter.com/calvin/calvin_19_on_Timothy.html. accessed October 13, 2013
Geisberg, Max., The German Single-Leaf Woodcut: 1500-1550, revised and edited by Walter L. Strauss. 4 vols. New York: Hacker Art Books, 1974, vol. 4, p. 1511, via web resource https://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=3711 Accessed October 11, 2013
Goethe Institut, Editors, Music in German-speaking territories in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, last modified September 2011, Accessed October 10, 2013.
Kirsch, Johann Peter. “Rudolph Agricola.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 19 Oct. 2013<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01231b.htm>.
Kishlansky, Mark, Geary, Patrick, O’Brien, Patricia, Civilization in the West, Chapter 15, (Pearson Education, 2010). http://wps.ablongman.com/long_kishlansky_cw_6/35/9180/2350097.cw/index.html. Accessed October 10, 2013.
Kreis, Steven, The History Guide, Lectures on Modern European History, Lecture 3: The Protestant Reformation, Last modified August 3, 2009, www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture3c.html. Accessed October 6, 2013.
Luther2017.com, Editors, Duchess Elisabeth of Brunswick-Luneburg, http://www.luther2017.de/en/p/18817/duchess-elisabeth-brunswick-lueneburg. Accessed October 19, 2013
Mittleman, Josh, the Academy of Saint Gabriel, The Medieval Names Archive, Accessed September 10, 2013
Pappas, Lee M. and Pappas N.J., History 226: World History from the Renaissance to Imperialism, undated, Internet Reference. Accessed September 10, 2013.
Progenealogists.com, Editors. Map of Germany, circa 1600, undated website, http://www.progenealogists.com/images/Meck.gif. Accessed October 9, 2013
Spaeth, Adolph, Reed, L.D. , Jacobs, Henry Eyster J, et. al., Trans, & Eds. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, (Philadelphia: A.J. Holman Company, 1915), Vol1, 29-38, Gutenberg Project, http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/274/pg274.html, accessed October 6, 2013.
Trueman, Chris, History Learning Site, John Calvin, http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/John_Calvin.htm accessed October 19, 2013.
Trueman, Chris, History Learning Site, Martin Luther, http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Martin_Luther0.htm accessed October 19, 2013.
The Royalty Guide, Editors, Mecklenburg, http://www.royaltyguide.nl/families/families.htm. Accessed October 17, 2013.
Natalie K. Watson, Feminist Theology (Google eBook), http://books.google.com/books?id=3tUjrKHC6NoC&pg=PA6&dq=Argula+von+Grumbach&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3ThkUoTUKaWDiQLsn4HIBQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Argula%20von%20Grumbach&f=false. Accessed via internets October 20, 2013.
Zitzlsperger, Ulrike. Mother, Martyr and Mary Magdalene: German Female Pamphleteers and their Self-images. History. Jul2003, Vol. 88 Issue 291, p379-392. 14p., accessed via 360 Link, October 9, 2013.
1Editors, Royalty Guide, Mecklenburg, accessed October 16, 2013, http://www.royaltyguide.nl/families/families.htm.
2 Joshua Mittleman, the Academy of Saint Gabriel, The Medieval Names Archive, accessed September 10, 2013.
3 Steven Kreis, The History Guide, Lectures on Modern European History, Lecture 3: The Protestant Reformation, Last modified August 3, 2009, accessed October 6, 2013, www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture3c.html
4 Editors, Progenealogists.com, Map of Germany, circa 1600, undated website, accessed October 9, 2013. http://www.progenealogists.com/images/Meck.gif.
5 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789, pg 136
6 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789, 192-193
7 Kishlansky, Geary, O’Brien, Civilization in the West, Chapter 15, accessed October 10, 2013 (Pearson Education, 2010). http://wps.ablongman.com/long_kishlansky_cw_6/35/9180/2350097.cw/index.html.
8Max Geisberg, The German Single-Leaf Woodcut: 1500-1550, revised and edited by Walter L. Strauss. 4 vols. New York: Hacker Art Books, 1974, vol. 4, p. 1511, accessed October 11, 2013. https://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=3711
9 John Calvin, A Sermon of Maister John Caluine, upon the first Epistle of Paul, to Timothie, published for the benefite and edifying of the Churche of God, translated out of French into English, by L.T. At London, imprinted for G. Bishop at T. Woodcoke, 1579. Website Facsimile accessed October 13, 2013, https://www.truecovenanter.com/calvin/calvin_19_on_Timothy.html
10 Lee M. Pappas and Nicholas C. J. Pappas, History 226: World History from the Renaissance to Imperialism, undated, Internet Reference, accessed September 10, 2013.
11Chris Trueman, History Learning Site, John Calvin, accessed October 19, 2013, last updated 2013, http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/John_Calvin.htm
12 Chris Trueman, History Learning Site, Martin Luther, accessed October 19, 2013, last updated 2013, http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Martin_Luther0.htm
13 Paul A. Bishop, Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Accessed January 3, 2013, https://www.hccfl.edu/media/173616/ee2luther.pdf.
14 Kirsch, Johann Peter. “Rudolph Agricola.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1, accessed October 17, 2013, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01231b.htm.
15Editors, Goethe Institut, Music in German-speaking territories in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, last modified September 2011, accessed October 10, 2013.
16Ulrike Zitzlsperger, Mother, Martyr and Mary Magdalene: German Female Pamphleteers and their Self-images. History. Jul2003, Vol. 88 Issue 291, p379-392. 14p., accessed via 360 Link, October 9, 2013.
17 Zitzlsperger, , Mother, Martyr and Mary Magdalene: German Female Pamphleteers and their Self-images. Accessed October 9, 2013.
18 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789. Pgs 120-122.
19 Paul A. Bishop, Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Accessed October 19, 2013, https://www.hccfl.edu/media/173616/ee2luther.pdf
20 Adolph Spaeth, L.D. Reed, Henry Eyster Jacobs, et. al., Trans, & Eds. Martin Luther’s 95 Theses, (Philadelphia: A.J. Holman Company, 1915), Vol1, 29-38, Gutenberg Project, accessed October 6, 2013, http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/274/pg274.html
21 Ibid.
22 Kirsch, Johann Peter. “Rudolph Agricola.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1, accessed October 17, 2013, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01231b.htm.
23 Steven Kreis, The History Guide, Lectures on Modern European Intellectual History, Renaissance Humanism, Last modified August 3, 2009, accessed October 6, 2013, www.historyguide.org/earlymod/lecture3c.html
24 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789. pgs 163-169
25 Lee M. Pappas, et al. History 226: World History from the Renaissance to Imperialism.
26 Ibid.
27 Merry Wiesner-Hanks. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789, pg 169-171
28 John Calvin, A Sermon of Maister John Caluine, upon the first Epistle of Paul, to Timothie, published for the benefite and edifying of the Churche of God, translated out of French into English, by L.T. At London, imprinted for G. Bishop at T. Woodcoke, 1579. Website Facsimile accessed October 13, 2013, https://www.truecovenanter.com/calvin/calvin_19_on_Timothy.html
29 Editors, Goethe Institut, Music in German-speaking territories in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, last modified September 2011, accessed October 10, 2013.
30Editors, Allmusic.com, Heinrich FInck discography, accessed October 20, 2013. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/heinrich-finck-mn0001193841
31Natalie K. Watson, Feminist Theology (Google eBook), accessed via internet October 20, 2013, http://books.google.com/books?id=3tUjrKHC6NoC&pg=PA6&dq=Argula+von+Grumbach&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3ThkUoTUKaWDiQLsn4HIBQ&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Argula%20von%20Grumbach&f=false
32Editors, Luther2017.com, Duchess Elisabeth of Brunswick-Luneburg, accessed October 19, 2013, http://www.luther2017.de/en/p/18817/duchess-elisabeth-brunswick-lueneburg