xt sermons were not fortunate in their results, since the
peasants failed to understand them. A class war followed, in which
Luther took the part of mediator, {60} trying to show his poorer
neighbours the evils their violence would bring on themselves, and
reproaching the nobles with their oppressive customs. He was angry
that the new religious spirit should be discredited by social disorder,
and spoke bitterly of all who refused to heed his remonstrances.
Erasmus was shocked by Luther's roughness of speech, and withdrew more
and more from the reforming party. He hated the old monkish teaching
and desired literary freedom, but he could not forgive the excesses of
this thorough-going reformer.

In 1523, Luther gave grave offence to many of his own followers by
marrying Catherine von Bora, a nun who had left her convent. He had
cast off the Roman belief that a priest should never marry, but public
feeling could not approve of a change which was in conflict with so
many centuries of tradition. The Reformer's home life was happy,
nevertheless, and six children were born of the marriage. As a father,
Luther showed much tenderness. He wrote with a marvellous simplicity
to his eldest son: "I know a very pretty, pleasant garden and in it
there are a great many children, all dressed in little golden coats,
picking up nice apples and pears and cherries and plums, under the
trees. And they sing and jump about and are very merry; and besides,
they have got beautiful little horses with golden bridles and silver
saddles. Then I asked the man to whom the garden belonged, whose
children they were, and he said, 'These are children who love to pray
and learn their lessons, and do as they are bid'; then I said, 'Dear
sir, I have a little son called Johnny Luther; may he come into this
garden too?'"

Luther's translation of the Bible was read with wonderful attention by
people of every rank. Other {61} countries of Europe also were
influenced by his doctrines, with the result of a diminution of the
blind faith in priestcraft. Nuremburg, Frankfort, Hamburg, and other
imperial free cities in Germany openly embraced the reformed religion,
abolishing the mass and other "superstitious rites of popery." The
secular princes drew up a list of one hundred grievances, enumerating
the grievous burdens laid upon them by the Holy See. In 1526 a Diet
assembled at Speyer to consider the state of religion! The Diet
enjoined all those who h