Luther reports that his journey to Eisleben was interrupted by flooding and ice in the Saale.
Printed in the Altenburger Ausgabe, vol. VIII, p. 1005; in the Leipziger, vol. XXII, p. 578; in Walch, vol. XXI, 516 (incorrectly 506); in De Wette, vol. V, p. 780 and in the Erlanger, vol. 56, p. 148.
To my friendly dear Käthen Lutherin at Wittenberg to hand 2c.
Grace and peace in the Lord. Dear Käthe! We arrived in Halle today at eight o'clock, but did not go to Eisleben, because we encountered a great flood with waves of water and large ice floes that covered the land, which caused us to be baptized again. So we could not return because of the Mulda, and had to lie still between the waters in Halle, not that we thirsted to drink, but took good Torgian beer and good Rhenish wine for it, with which we refreshed and comforted ourselves in the meantime, whether the Saala wanted to go out again. For because the people and wagoners, and we ourselves, were timid, we did not want to go into the water and tempt God; for the devil is angry with us, and dwells in the water, and is better kept than lamented, and is without need that we should make the pope and his scales a fool's delight. I would not have thought that the Saala could make such a sod that it should rumble over stone paths and everything like that. Now no more, then: Pray for us and be pious. I think that if you had been here, you would have advised us to do the same, and we would have followed your advice. Hereby God be praised, amen. At Halla on St. Paul's Conversion Day [Jan. 25] Anno 1546. Martinus Luther, D.
No. 3298.