Puritan Pub

This should be a no brainer, you shouldn’t drive a car, steam roller or 747 if you’ve been drinking. I would add to that list any correspondence to your wife from another city.

Now I can’t prove that the following letter was written under the influence; we need to keep in mind that it has been translated from German into English. We shouldn’t forget that is was written nearly 500 years ago and idioms and terms of endearment have evolved since then. We should also keep in mind, however, that this was Dr. Luther. When the church needed a stubborn, pig headed wild boar to rescue the Gospel, God in his mercy and providence sent Dr. Martin Luther - he was no diplomat, he was far from irenic but he was the man for the moment.

The following is a revealing letter describing his love of good beer, good wine and his good woman, Katie - his brewster, his pretty lady… his lord?

To my kind, dear lord, Lady Catherine von Bora, Mrs. Doctor Luther, at Wittenberg

Grace and peace in Christ! Dear Sir Katie! I know of nothing to write to you since Master Philip, together with the others, is coming home. I have to remain here longer for the devout Sovereign’s sake. You might wonder how long I shall remain here, or how you might set me free. I think that Master Francis will set me free, just as I freed him—but not so soon.

Yesterday I drank something which did not agree with me, so that I had to sing: If I don’t drink well I have to suffer, and [yet] I do like to do it. I said to myself what good wine and beer I have at home, and also [what] a pretty lady or (should I say) lord. You would do well to ship the whole cellar full of my wine and a bottle of your beer to me here, as soon as you are able; otherwise I will not be able to return home because of the new beer.

With this I commend you to God, together with our young ones and all the members of our household. Amen.

July 29, 1534
The Man whom you Love
Martin Luther, Doctor