He did not really shake the foundation of Froude's case, which was the same as Luther's.

Luther, like Froude, was no democrat.

To both of them the Reformation was a protest against ecclesiastical tyranny, or for spiritual freedom.

"The comedy has ended in a marriage," said Erasmus of Luther and Luther's wife.

It was not a comedy, and it had not ended.
Froude sometimes goes too far.