As soon as this conviviality had come to an end, Romero, accompanied by his host, walked into the square.

The great bell had been meantime ringing, and the citizens had been summoned to assemble in the Gast Huis Church, then used as a town hall.

In the course of a few minutes 500 had entered the building, and stood quietly awaiting whatever measures might be offered for their deliberation.

Suddenly a priest, who had been pacing to and fro before the church door, entered the building and bade them all prepare for death; but the announcement, the preparation, and the death, were simultaneous.

The door was flung open, and a band of armed Spaniards rushed across the sacred threshold.