ABSTRACT

In 1524, Michael, a tablemaker in Basel, married Ursula, a widow. He stated in their wedding agreement that

he would stand in place of Durschen (sainted) as a father to the [step-] children, with this stipulation: that he would pay attention to, raise and hold the said children henceforth as though they were his bodily children and he should let the boys learn a craft that was honorable and according to each one’s will, and if they had no desire to be table-makers he should let them learn another, and when the children came of age and desired a place, whether spiritual or secular, he should, like a father, advise them about that and be helpful and give them twenty pounds for it, and if it should be that he could help them more, and such children followed his will and lived, he should be obliged to increase [the help] according to his ability and whether Michael had more children with their mother … or no others, when he died, they should inherit from him as though he was their bodily father. 1