Lord has cast me out as these have done?

Harlot. No!

Olof (seizing the letter of excommunication). Well, then! The
great bishop of the small city of Linkoping has sold my soul to
Satan for the term of my life--for farther than that his power
does not reach--and he has done so because I bade the people seek
their Lord when they had been prohibited from doing so! Here is
the contract! As the Church, by that contract, has bound me to
hell, so I set myself free from it (he tears the letter to
pieces)--and from the ban of the Church, too! So help me God!
Amen!

Crowd (howling). Anathema!

Marten. Down with him! At him! He is banned!

Olof (placing himself in front of the Harlot). Do you hear the
devils yelling for their victim?--Dare not to touch me!

Marten. At him! Down with him!

[Just as one of the mercenaries raises his weapon to strike, the
iron door in the rear is flung open, and the Anabaptists, headed
by Knipperdollink, come rushing in, uttering wild cries. They
carry broken crucifixes and images of saints as well as torn vestments.
All those in the room before are forced toward the street door.]

Knipperdollink (as he pushes back the iron door and enters ahead