Gert. If the Lord won't, the Holy Church will, and I am now within her consecrated walls.
Townsman. Get him away from the church wall!
Gert. If you don't fear God, you must at least fear the ban of the Holy Father.
Woman. Drag him away from that door! It is his unclean spirit that has cast a spell on the church.
Townsman. That's it! The Lord won't open His church to the Devil.
(The crowd is rushing at Gert again, when the Bishop's Secretary enters, preceded by a verger, who calls upon the people to attend.)
Secretary (reading). "Whereas our cathedral city has failed in the payment of its tithes to this See, and whereas it continues refractory in regard to such payments, the Chapter has deemed it necessary, in accordance with its vested rights and the sanction granted by the Holy Curia, to close the doors of the church and to discontinue all masses and sacrifices until the aforesaid dereliction shall have been duly remedied; failure to observe which shall be at the risk of our displeasure. Datum vigilia assumptionis Mariae. Chapter of Strängnäs." [Exit.]
Gert. What do you say to that, good folk?
Townsman. No mass on Whitsun Eve? That's a shame!
Gert. Take care! Say nothing evil of the priests; maybe they're not to blame.