midnight
Three men , two of them miners , suddenly appeared running towards the gate , and making eager signs to the sentries in the barbican with the view of obtaining speedy admission . This being at once granted , the little party turned out to consist of the two miners , Roller and Wahle , sent some days before on a special mission , together with Master Prieme , who had fortunately succeeded in making his escape . Roller and his comrade brought letters and advices from Marshal Piccolomini ; these , addressed to the commandant and the town authorities , and written at Brix on February 5th , promised that within six , or at longest eight days , the imperial army should be seen on the mountain beyond the city , advancing to free Freiberg , by the blessing of God , from the presence of the foe . The marshal further announced that as he approached he would set fire to a house or two in the village of Leichtenberg on the Mulda , so that by midnight his advance should be known in the city ; and that immediately on reaching the mountain , where the enemy would doubtless discover his presence , he would fire six guns morning and evening , and three more as he actually began his march down towards the city . Thus the garrison would have timely notice of the arrival of help . Piccolomini 's despatch to Schönleben ran as follows : -- ` To our trusty , best , and right well-beloved Burgomaster , Herr Jonas Schönleben , -- Be it known that I have kept the messengers by me , that their bodily eyes might see my army set forward on its march , and that thus they might take assured news thereof into the good city of Freiberg . And inasmuch as I shall in few days arrive before Freiberg with such army -LRB- whereof the enemy neither have knowledge nor can conceive aught aright -RRB- , and so , with the help of Almighty God , shall relieve the city , I hereby beseech the said noble Burgomaster to do his utmost , with aid of all and sundry those brave and honourable burghers by whom he is at this present sustained , to maintain and defend the said post until my arrival ; and to that end to encourage and hearten all men , as hitherto hath been so notably done by him , that they may not make surcease for so few days of that stedfast toil and bravery which they have heretofore shown .