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 31 8 LETTERS OF MARTIN LUTHER 1535 incompetent person, to teach you what to say at the ceremony of conferring doctors' degrees ; and now our head cook, Kathie, begs you will, with this thaler, send us birds and what you can find in your region of the air, which creatures God has appointed for man's use. But send us no ravens, but sparrows in any number, and if you lay out any more it shall be refunded to you ; and if you can get a hare, or shoot anything for nothing, or purchase some vegetables, then send these also, for the principal thing is that you all get something to eat, for one must not depend on beer alone, of which my Kathie has brewed fourteen tuns, in which she has put thirty-two bushels of malt to suit my taste. She hopes it may be good ; you will judge for yourself when you taste it. There is no other news, except that the Emperor is carry- ing everything before him in Africa. But Herzog George and the Bishop of Halle have issued an order to their people to fast three days a week for the Emperor and receive the sacrament in one kind, so that things may improve even more. So if the Emperor Karl should conquer Constantinople, which God grant he may, then it will be these things and not God who has done it. But Christ lives, so let us rejoice even amid the rage of devils and men, enjoying the good things of life, till they come to a miserable end, especially if you confer your delightful society upon us, with your captives, who, under the sway of the head cook, will be consigned to the captivity of the pot. My Kathie and all greet you respectfully. Farewell in the Lord. Martin Luther. (Walch, V. 21. 1430.) CCCXXXII To THE Elector John Frederick, in Conjunction WITH Others Request for a private audience for the Englishman Barnes, etc. September z, 1535. Grace and peace with our poor paternoster, Most Serene High-born Prince, most gracious Lord 1 His