the gifts, such as cups, jewelry, rings, chains, medals, gold and silver, which, perhaps, in all may be worth something like a thousand gulden.

"This is all I am worth, and I give it all to my wife, for the following reasons:

"1. Because she has always conducted herself toward me lovingly, worthily, and beautifully, like a pious, faithful, and noble wife; and by the rich blessing of God she has borne and brought up for me five living children, who yet live, and God grant they may long live.

"2. Because she will take upon herself and pay the debts which I owe and may not be able to pay during my life; which, so far as I can estimate, may amount to about 450 florins, or perhaps a little more.

"3. But most of all, because I will not have her dependent on the children, but the children on her; that they may hold her in honor, and submit themselves to her, as God has commanded. For I see well and observe, how the devil, by wicked and envious mouths, heats and excites children, even though they be pious, against this command; especially when the mothers are widows, and the sons get wives and the daughters get husbands, and again socrus nurum, nurus socrum. For I hold that the mother will be the best guardian for her own children, and will use what little property and goods she may have, not for their disadvantage and injury, but for their good and improvement, since they are her own flesh and blood, and she has carried them under her heart.

"And if, after my death, she should find it necessary or desirable to marry again, (for I cannot pretend to set limits to the will or the providence of God,) yet I trust, and herewith express my confidence, that she will conduct herself toward our mutual children as becometh a mother, and will faithfully impart to them property, and do whatever else is right.

"And herewith I humbly pray my most gracious lord, his grace, Duke John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, graciously to guard and protect the above named gifts and property.

"I also entreat all my good friends to be witnesses for my

dear Catey, and help defend her, should any good-for-nothing mouths reprove and slander her, as if she had secretly some personal property, of which she would defraud the poor children. For I testify that there is no personal property except the plate and jewelry enumerated above. And indeed any one publicly can make the calculation, for every body knows how much income I have had from my gracious lord, and besides that I have never had a penny or a pepper-corn from any one except in the way of presents, which are mentioned above among the jewelry, and in part are pledged for debt; and when it is seen how much I have built and bought, and what great expense of housekeeping and charity I have maintained with this income and these gifts, others as well as myself must consider it a special and wonderful blessing that I have been able to get along, and the wonder is, not that there is no more ready money, but that there are so few debts.

"I beg this may be considered, because the devil, when he can no longer plague me, would be glad to plague my Catey in every possible way, for no other reason than because she has been the married housewife of that man Dr. Martin, and is yet, blessed be God.

"Finally, I beg, since in this will or testament I have not used legal forms or words, (and thereto I have my reasons,) that every one will let me be the person that I am in truth, namely, openly, and known both in heaven, on earth, and in hell, and let me have respect and authority enough, so that I may be trusted and believed more than any lawyer. For so God, the Father of all mercies, hath entrusted to me, a poor miserable, condemned sinner, the Gospel of His dear Son, and therein, thus far, I have behaved and conducted myself truly and faithfully, and it has made much progress in the world through me, and I am honored as a teacher of the truth, notwithstanding the curse of the Pope, and the wrath of emperors, kings, princes, priests, and all kinds of devils; much rather, then, let me believed in this little matter, especially as here is my hand, which is very well known; and I hope it may be enough, when it can be said and proved, that this is

the serious and deliberate desire of Dr. Martin Luther, (who is God's lawyer and witness in his Gospel,) to be proved by his own hand and seal.

"Done and given in the day of Euphemia, (Sept. 16,)

1542.

"M. LUTHER."

Ego Philippus Melanchthon testor, hanc esse et sententiam et voluntatem, et manum Reverendi Domini D. Martini Lutheri Preceptoris et Patris nostri carissimi.

Ego Caspar Cruciger D. testor, hanc esse et sententiam et voluntatem et manum Reverendi D. Domini Martini Lutheri, carissimi Patris nostri. Quare ipse mea manu subscripsi.

Et ego Johannes Bugenhagius, Pomeranus D. idem testor

manu mea.

Confirmed by his grace, the Elector and Duke of Saxony, April 11, 1546.

The Council of Trent was now in session, and every effort was made to inveigle the Protestants into some compromise with the Papists. Notwithstanding his growing infirmities, therefore, Luther did not feel that he could relax any of his labors. He still kept up his active correspondence over all Europe, still lectured every day, and preached from four to six times every week, and almost every month published some book, and he wrote large works on the papacy with special reference to the Council of Trent. Two of these works were adorned with plates of the most satirical and biting character against the pope and his council. They were entitled, Das Pabsthum zu Rom von Teufel gestiftet, and Prophetische Abkonterfeiung des Tridentinischen Conziliabuli. Even the friends of Luther thought these books too sharp and violent.

But the final scene was fast approaching. There had been a difficulty of long standing at Eisleben, Luther's native town, between the count of Mansfeld, his brothers, and the inhabitants, respecting the property in the mines there. The controversy had become exceedingly bitter, and the minds of the parties were very much irritated and alienated. Luther

had once spent several days among them to effect reconciliaation, but without success. They now thought, however, that if he would visit them again, they would submit all their differences to his judgment and abide by his decision. The count of Mansfeld, therefore, besought him to come if his health would possibly admit. January 20th, 1546, Luther writes in answer to the count: "I am busy writing against the asses in Paris and Louvain, and for an old man my health is good enough."

On the morning of the 23d he set out for Eisleben, and took with him his two sons Martin and Paul, the eldest of whom was then about twenty. His wife was sick, and on that account obliged to stay at home. There had been a violent storm, the rivers had all overflown their banks, the bridges were carried away, and travelling was both difficult and dangerous. At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 24th, he arrived in Halle, and in the evening preached in St. Mary's church. He was detained there three days by the state of the river Saale, which was full of floating ice, and running with a furious current. On the 28th he and his two sons, with Dr. Jonas, rowed themselves across the river in a skiff, at the imminent hazard of their lives. While they were struggling with the ice and water, Luther spoke to Dr. Jonas in his dry pleasant way: "Dear Doctor, would it not be fine sport for the devil to drown Dr. Martin Luther and his two sons and Dr. Jonas, all together, here in the river!" They gained the shore in safety, and proceeded on their journey. The count of Mansfeld met them with a company of one hundred and thirteen horses, and escorted them to Eisleben. When they came in sight of the church tower of Eisleben, a rush of tender reminiscences crowded upon the mind of Luther with such overwhelming force that he fainted entirely away. When he recovered, he said: "The devil must needs insult me from the old steeple yonder. But I will give him a pull or two yet before I die." Luther found himself very much exhausted by the fatigues and inconveniences of his journey. He had an issue for the pains in his head. This had been neglected

since he left home, and had become very painful. After a night's rest, however, he entered on business and pursued it with unremitting diligence.

On account of the state of his health and the inclemency of the season, his wife felt unusual anxiety for him, and in her letters to him expressed her solicitude with all a woman's tenderness. He answered affectionately, cheerfully, and jocosely, and endeavored to quiet her apprehensions. The last of his letters to her, written but a few days before his death, we shall here insert, as a specimen of this unique correspondence.

"To the holy, careful lady Catharine Lutheress, the Zulzdorf Doctoress at Wittenberg, my gracious dear housewife.

"Grace and peace in Christ, most holy lady Doctoress; we thank thee most kindly for thy great care of us, whereby thou canst not sleep; for since the time thou hast taken up the care of us, a fire broke out in our hotel close by our chamber door, and was likely to burn us up; and yesterday, owing no doubt to thy tender care, a great stone came near to falling on my head and squashing me like a mouse in a trap.

“*** I have to thank your sacred care of me that the dear holy angels have given over taking care of me. I fear me, if thy anxiety cease not, the earth will open and swallow me up, and all the elements persecute me. Dost thou study the Kategisseman' and the Creed? Go to thy prayers and let God take care of me. It is written, Cast thy cares on the Lord, who careth for thee; read the 55th Psalm and many other like passages. Thank God, we are bright and well; but our business plagues us, and Dr. Jones has a lame leg, by reason of his accidentally stumbling into a shop. So great is the envy of people, that he would not let me have a lame leg alone. Herewith I commend thee to God. We will gladly get loose from here and come home so soon as God pleases. Amen, Amen, Amen.

"On the day Scholastica, (Feb. 10,) 1546.

"Your MARTIN LUTHER."

1 So Catharine, by mistake, had written the German word Katechismus, Catechism.