About this time a contagious disease broke out in Wittenberg, and all the members of the University removed to Torgau. Catharine also determined to leave the place with her two younger sons, Martin and Paul (John was studying at Konigsberg), and her only daughter, Margaret, was to follow them a short time after. On the journey the horses became unmanageable and ran away with the carriage. Catharine, more concerned about the children than her own safety, and with the hope of facilitating their escape, leaped out of the vehicle and fell violently into a ditch full of water. This painful accident gave such a severe shock to her system that she was conveyed to Torgau in a very weak condition, where she took her bed and never left it alive. Her illness increased from day to day, and soon assumed the decided character of consumption. Two months after, December 20, 1552, she died in the 54th year of her age. Her funeral was attended by an immense crowd of persons. The professors, students, and citizens, united in demonstrations of respect for the deceased widow of the illustrious reformer. During the whole period of her sickness, she comforted herself with the promises of God’s word. She heartily prayed for a peaceful departure out of this vale of tears. She frequently commended the Church and her children to the continued protection of God, and her daily supplication was that the true doctrine, which the Lord had given to the world through her deceased husband, might be transmitted uncorrupted to posterity. A plain monument in the _city church_ of Torgau designates the place where her remains repose. On the monument or tombstone there is a recumbent statue, the size of life, with an open Bible pressed to the heart. The inscription is, Anno 1552, den 20 December. Ist in Gott selig entschlaffen alhier Zu Torgau Herrn D. Martin Luther’s Seligen hinterlassene Wittwe Katharina von Bora. CHAPTER VII. Luther’s Children—Domestic Character—Catharine. Catharine had been the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters. 1. _John_, born June 7, 1526; studied law, and became a civil officer in the service of the Elector of Saxony; died October 27, 1575, aged 50 years. 2. _Elizabeth_; born December 10, 1527, died August 3, 1528. 3. _Magdalena_; born May 4, 1529; died September 20, 1542, aged 14; 4. _Martin_; born November 7, 1531—studied theology; died March 3, 1565, aged 34. 5. _Paul_; born January 28, 1533—studied medicine, and became court physician to the Elector of Saxony; died March 8, 1593, aged 61 years. 6. _Margaret_; born December 17, 1534; died 1570, aged 36 years.