That night forty archers stole, one by one, quietly into Worcester, entering the town before the gates were shut, and so mingling with the citizens that they were unobserved.

When it was quite dark they quietly took their way, one by one, to the square in which stood the convent, and were admitted into the shop of Master Nicholas, the silk mercer.
The house was a large one, with its floors overhanging each the one beneath it, as was the custom of the time, and with large casements running the whole width of the house.
The mercer had laid by a goodly store of provisions, and for three days the troop, large as it was, was accommodated there.

Cuthbert himself was with them, Cnut remaining at the grange with the ten men originally sent there.
On the third day Sir Rudolph, with a number of knights and men-at-arms, arrived in the town, giving out that he was passing northward, but he would abide that night at the hostelry.

A great many of his men-at-arms did, as those on the watch observed, enter one by one into the town.

The people of Worcester were somewhat surprised at this large accompaniment of the earl, but thought no harm.