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 succor 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.

With a thundering noise they knocked at the door, and upon the grating being opened Sir Rudolph himself told the porteress who looked through it that she was to go at once to the abbess and order her to surrender the body of the Lady Margaret to him, in accordance with the order of Prince John; adding, that if within the space of five minutes the order was not complied with, he would burst in the gates of the convent and take her for himself.