on the rich laity.

This was refused on account of the grievances of the nation against the Curia, and refused in language of the utmost violence.

It was stated that the real enemy of Christianity was not the Turk but "the hound of hell" in Rome.

Indulgences were branded as blood-letting.
When such was the public opinion it is clear that Luther only touched a match to a heap of inflammable material.

The whole nationalist movement redounded to the benefit of Protestantism.