"Oberthal, thy fate shall rest with her. I spare thee till she shall pronounce sentence upon thee." He had no sooner spoken than Mathison rushed in and cried that the troops had rebelled, and that John alone could stop the riot and stay the ruin. "The gates of Muenster have been thrown open, its army has marched upon us, and our men are fleeing." "Run! run!" John of Leyden shouted. "After them, and turn them back. Muenster must be ours!" And he rushed off, the Anabaptists following. When he managed to rally the soldiers, they turned upon him and accused him of being a false Prophet. "Ye promised us to take Muenster; thy dallying has lost it to us. We shall no longer tolerate a rule like thine. Thou art no Prophet." But since learning that Bertha was within the city of Muenster, John of Leyden's purpose had become fixed. If he entered that city at all, it must be as a conqueror; because as a seditionist his head was wanted there. Yet if he did not enter he could not find Bertha. When they had cried death to the Prophet, John of Leyden calmly, with great impressiveness, made them cower before his rage. "I punish rebellion like this. If you have come to grief--or if the cause shall--it is because you have offended God by your haste, and by your disobedience to me," he cried, while the soldiers shouted: "He speaks like a holy man! We have done wrong." "Get to your knees, you impious men!" he cried, seeing his advantage over them, and they all fell upon their knees. His personality had gained the control over a great people once again. With this spirit of enthusiasm aroused, the city of Muenster was soon taken, and a great hymn of triumph went up. All the people likened John of Leyden to David, and rallied round him, proclaiming him king. ACT IV Before the city hall of the city of Muenster, many citizens were collected, and many were continually arriving, bearing rich bronzes, and chests of treasure, which they were hoping to save for themselves by placing them under the direct protection of the city. The invading hosts of John's army filled all with fear. No one was more furious against the Prophet than Bertha, who, being in Muenster, had no thought that the Prophet who had laid waste the whole country could be her beloved sweetheart. The public square before the city hall was soon invaded by the soldiers of John, who were crying, "Long live the Prophet!" while answering cries of "Down with him! down with thy Prophet!" were courageously shouted by the people of Muenster. "This Prophet who is to be crowned King of the Anabaptists; he is of Satan and not of Heaven!" The whole city was full of despair. While all was in confusion, Faith, John's mother, was seen to wander in and kneel in prayer. "What art thou doing there, mother?" one of the crowd questioned.