idows, and
the sons get wives, and the daughters get husbands, and again
_socrus murum, 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 carried them under her heart.

"And if, after my death, she should find it necessary or
desirable to marry again (for I can not pretend to set limits to
the will or 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 to defend her should any good-for-nothing mouth
reprove and slander her, as if she had secretly some personal
property of which she would defraud the poor children. For I
testify there is no personal property except the plate and
jewelry enumerated above.

"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 may let me be the person that I am in truth, namely, openly
and known both in heaven and 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 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 be believed in this little
matter, especially as here in 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 Go