midnight
That day it was given out that Sir Edmund Acour , those of his knights who remained alive and all his following were about to leave for London and lay their cause before the King , having learned that Hugh de Cressi had gone thither to prejudice his Grace on his own behalf . It was added , moreover , that they would not return to Suffolk , but proposed when they had found justice or the promise of it , to take ship at Dover for France . Next morning , accordingly , they rode away from Blythburgh Manor and passed through Dunwich with much pomp , where the citizens of that town , who were friends of the de Cressis , stared at them with no kind eyes . Indeed , one of these as they crossed the market-place called to them to be careful not to meet Hugh de Cressi and Grey Dick upon their journey , lest there should be more midnight burials and men-at-arms turned into foot-soldiers , whereat all about him laughed rudely . But Acour did not laugh . He ground his teeth and said into the ear of Nicholas : `` Register this vow for me , priest , that in payment for that jest I 'll sack and burn Dunwich when our army comes , and give its men and children to the sword and its women to the soldiers . '' `` It shall be done , lord , '' answered the chaplain , `` and should your heart soften at the appointed time I 'll put you in memory of this solemn oath . ''