midnight
The people of Worcester were somewhat surprised at this large accompaniment of the earl , but thought no harm . The Abbess of St. Anne 's , however , was greatly terrified , as she feared that some evil design might be intended against her . She was , however , reassured in the evening by a message brought by a boy , to the effect that succour would be near , whatsoever happened . At midnight a sudden uproar was heard in the streets of Worcester . A party of men fell upon the burgesses guarding the gate of the town , disarmed them , and took possession of it . At the same time those who had put up at the hostelry with Sir Rudolph suddenly mounted their horses , and with a great clatter rode down the streets to the Convent of St. Anne . Numbers of men on foot also joined , and some sixty in all suddenly appeared before the great gate of the convent .