As long as their propaganda was peaceful Luther was inclined to tolerate it.

"Let them teach what they like," said he, "be it gospel or lies." But when they began to preach a campaign of fire and sword, Luther wrote, in July 1524, to his elector begging him "to act vigorously against their storming and ranting, in order that God's kingdom may be advanced by word only, as becomes Christians, and that all cause of sedition may be taken from the multitude [Herr Omnes, literally Mr.Everybody], more than enough inclined to it already." When the revolt at last broke out Luther was looked up to and appealed to by the people as their champion.

In April 1525 he composed an _Exhortation to Peace on the Twelve Articles of the Swabian Peasants_, [Sidenote: Exhortation to Peace] in which he distributed the blame for the present conditions liberally, but impartially, on both sides, aristocrats and peasants.

To the former he said that their tyranny, together with that of the clergy had brought this punishment on themselves, and that God intended to smite them.

To the peasants he said that no tyranny was excuse for rebellion.