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 my good friend. I am ready to oblige you in any way, dear sir. I have received your letter, and understand its object, and in reply to your petition I present a counterinterrogation.

Who bade you write such a letter to me? Was it the clerical gentleman at Cologne, or the assassin at Dresden, or your junker, Herzog George? When you tell me this you shall receive an answer, printed and full of matter, if God will. For I am ready to serve you. MARTIN LUTHER, DOCTOR. WITTENBERG. (De Wette.)

CCXCIX
TO FRAU JORGER Frau Jorger was the first lady who gave 500 gulden to Luther for bursaries for poor students.

May 6, 1533.

Honored, virtuous lady! Your letter concerning the 500 gulden, which should have reached Leipsic at Easter, came too late. But I have sent your petition to Martin Seldener to Nurnberg through Lazarus Spengler, begging him to promote the matter through a written document and send it to Nurnberg, although I should have preferred, as I wrote you, that you had done this yourself, which would have been your safest plan; for I saw from your letter that you wished such alms to be given direct to poor students rather than have it invested, and I hope you will continue in this mind. Never mind because a preacher is making you anxious about your son, as Herr Michael tells me, threatening him with law. Let them go to law if they will. It is no concern of yours. The law will decide between them, so do not burden your conscience with it. I herewith commit you and yours to God. Your obedient, MARTIN LUTHER. WITTENBERG. (De Wette.)