Act III. In the winter camp of the Anabaptists in a forest of

Westphalia, before Münster. On a frozen lake people are skating. The people have risen against their oppressors. _John_ has been proclaimed a prophet of God. At the head of the Anabaptists he is besieging Münster.

The act develops in three scenes. The first reveals the psychological medley of fanaticism and sensuality of the Anabaptists and their followers. In the second _John_ enters. _Oberthal_ is delivered into his hands. From him _John_ learns that _Bertha_ again has escaped from the castle and is in Münster. The three Anabaptist leaders wish to put the _Count_ to death. But _John_, saying that _Bertha_ shall be his judge, puts off the execution, much to the disgust of the three fanatics, who find _John_ assuming more authority than is agreeable to them. This scene, the second of the act, takes place in _Zachariah's_ tent. The third scene shows again the camp of the Anabaptists. The leaders, fearing _John's_ usurpation of power, have themselves headed an attack by their followers on Münster and met with defeat. The rabble they have led is furious and ready to turn even against _John_. He, however, by sheer force of personality coupled with his assumption of superhuman inspiration, rallies the crowd to his standard, and leads it to victory.