It was eight o'clock when they arrived. They found there the electors of Brandenburg and Mentz, the Dukes of Saxony, Brunswick, and Mecklenburg, the Bishops of Salzburg, Spire, and Strasburg, George Truchses, the Margrave of Baden's representative, Count Martin of (OE)lting, the Abbot of Weingarten, and the Provost of Bamberg. These were the commissioners nominated by Charles to terminate this great affair. It was the most decided among them, Joachim of Brandenburg, who began to speak. "You know," said he to the Protestants, "with what mildness the Emperor has endeavoured to re-establish unity. If some abuses have crept into the Christian Church, he is ready to correct them, in conjunction with the Pope. But how contrary to the Gospel are the sentiments you have adopted! Abandon then your errors, do not any longer remain separate from the Church, and sign the Refutation without delay.[732] If you refuse, then through your fault how many souls will be lost, how much blood shed, what countries laid waste, what trouble in all the Empire! And you," said he, turning towards the Elector, "your electorate, your life, all will be torn from you, and certain ruin will fall upon your subjects, and even upon their wives and children." [732] Ut sententiæ quam in refutatione audivissent subscribant. (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 277.) The Elector remained motionless. At any time this language would have been alarming: it was still more so now that the city was almost in a state of siege. "We now understand," said the Protestants to one another, "why the imperial guards occupy the gates of the city."[733] It was evident, indeed, that the Emperor intended violence.[734] [733] Intelligis nunc cur portæ munitæ fuerunt. (Ibid.) [734] Quia volebat Cæsar nostros violentia ad suam sententiam cogere. (Ibid.) [Sidenote: PHILIP OF HESSE.] The Protestants are unanimous: surrounded with soldiers, at the very gates of the prison, and beneath the thousand swords of Charles, they will remain firm. All these threats will not make them take one step backwards.[735] It was important for them, however, to consider their reply. They begged for a few minutes' delay, and retired. [735] Sed hæ minæ nostros nihil commoverunt: perstant in sententia, nec vel tantillum recedunt. (Corp. Ref. ii. p. 277.) To submit voluntarily, or to be reduced by force, such was the dilemma Charles proposed to the Evangelical Christians. At the moment when each was anxious about the issue of this struggle, in which the destinies of Christianity were contending, an alarming rumour suddenly raised the agitation of all minds to its height.