midnight
He had selected us well . We were born on his Norman estates , and trained up from childhood to do his will , and that of the devil . We all promised to do whatever he should ask , and to keep the matter a secret . Then he told us that we were to burn the Priory of St. Wilfred at midnight , and to allow none to escape . This we did , we took possession silently of every exit , piled up wood and straw , set it on fire on every side at once , and transfixed all those who tried to break out with arrows or lances , and hurled them back into the flames . Long has my soul been sick with horror that I slew these holy men , and now that all who were my companions in this deed have perished by God 's just judgment -- burnt alive even as they burned -- I , willing to save my soul from the everlasting flame , do make this my penitent confession , praying God to have mercy upon my soul . Given in the Dismal Swamp , in the month of June , 1068 .