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seem, like Duke George, to be rejoicing in an opportunity for revenge. So weak and unmanly and sordid is the mind of those tyrants, so unworthy to be the servant of the mob. But Christ's be the thanks and mine the joy, I am sufficiently vindi- cated, for I despise their god, who is Satan, and them along with him.
I am glad you promise me seed in the spring. Send as much as you can; I want it and am looking for it. If I can do anything in return, command me, and it will be done. For though Satan and his members may rage, I will laugh at him, and will turn my attention to the gardens, that is to the bless- ings of the Creator, and enjoy them to His praise.
Since we barbarians have neither art nor culture, I and my servant Wolfgang* have taken up the art of turning. We are sending you a gulden' and ask that you will kindly send us, at some convenient time, tools for boring and turning, and at the same time two or three of those that they call "screws," of which any turner can easily tell you. We have tools, but we want some of more elegant form which will corrrespond to your Nuremberg art. Do this, and if you spend somewhat more it will be repaid, for I believe things are somewhat cheaper at Nuremberg than here; unless, of course, it would be a nuisance. If the world prove altogether unwilling to feed us for the Word's sake, we will learn to make a living with our hands, and serve the unwilling and the ungrateful, after the example of our Father in heaven. The grace of God be with you.
747. LUTHER TO JOHN AGRICOLA. Enders, vi, x. WmrENBERG, January i, 1527.
Grace and peace in the Lord. My mistress and lady Kate has ordered me to thank you for the cloth you gave her, though there was no need to bestow such a splendid gift upon the poor. She has gone to much pains to have this maid Elsa come to your Elsa ; God grant that she may be an obedient servant.
We are well here and busy fortifying Wittenberg so that
» Wolfgang Sicbergcr. Vide, Vol. I, p. 57, n. 6. 'Worth about 60 cents intrinsically.
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