Andreas Karlstadt

From having been the slavish satellites of a foreign master in Italy, they became patriotic subjects and useful men at home.

Several years before, two friends of Luther, who were his noble assistants in the work of the Reformation, Melanchthon and Karlstadt, had written treatises against clerical celibacy.

Their books on this subject were equally as unexpected and created as much excitement among the clergy as Luther's theses against indulgences had done six years before.

Luther was not the first priest in those days who practically rejected celibacy.