"To my kind and dear Kaethe Lutherin, at Wittemberg, grace and
peace in the Lord.
"Dear Kaethe,--To-day at half-past eight o'clock we reached
Halle, but have not yet arrived at Eisleben; for a great
anabaptist encountered us with water-floods and great blocks of
ice, which covered the land, and threatened to baptize us all
again. Neither could we return, on account of the Mulda.
Therefore we remain tranquilly here at Halle, between the two
streams. Not that we thirst for water to drink, but console
ourselves with good Torgau beer and Rhine wine, in case the
Saala should break out into a rage again. For we and our
servants, and the ferrymen, would not tempt God by venturing on
the water; for the devil is furious against us, and dwells in
the water-floods; and it is better to escape him than to
complain of him, nor is it necessary that we should become the
jest of the pope and his hosts. I could not have believed that
the Saala could have made such a brewing, bursting over the
causeway and all. Now no more; but pray for us and be pious. I
hold, hadst thou been here, thou hadst counselled us to do
precisely what we have done. So for once we should have taken
thy advice. Herewith I commend you to God. Amen. At Halle, on
the day of the Conversion of St. Paul.
"MARTINUS LUTHER."
Four other letters she has received, one dated on the 2d of February,
addressed--
"To my heartily beloved consort Katherin Lutherin, the
Zoellsdorfian doctoress, proprietress of the Sauemarkt, and
whatever else she may be, grace and peace in Christ; and my old
poor (and, as know, powerless) love to thee!
"Dear Kaethe,--I became very weak on the road to Eisleben, for
my sins; although, wert thou here, thou wouldst have said it
was for the sins of the Jews. For near Eisleben we passed
through a village where many Jews reside, and it is true, as I
came through it, a cold wind came through my Baret (doctor's
hat), and my head, as if it would turn my brain to ice.
"Thy sons left Mansfeld yesterday, because Hans von Jene so
humbly entreated them to accompany him. I know not what they
do. If it were cold, they might help me freeze here. Since,
however, it is warm again, they may do or suffer anything else
they like. Herewith I commend you and all the house to God, and
greet all our friends. Vigilia purificationis."