The noise of the tumult in the square of the convent aroused the whole town of Worcester.  Alarm bells were rung; and the burgesses, hastily arming themselves, poured into the streets.  Directed by the sound, they made their way to the square, and were astonished at finding it entirely deserted, save for some twenty men, lying dead or dying in front of the gate of the convent, pierced with long arrows.  They speedily found that Sir Rudolph and his troop had departed; and further inquiry revealed the fact that the burgher guard at one of the gates had been overpowered and were prisoners in the watchroom.  These could only say that they were suddenly seized, all being asleep save the one absolutely on guard.  They knew nothing more than that a few minutes later there was a great clatter of horsemen and men on foot leaving the city.  Unable to find any solution to this singular circumstance, but satisfied that Sir Rudolph had departed, and that no more disturbance was likely to arise that night, the burgesses again betook themselves to their beds, having closed the gates and placed a strong guard over them, determining next morning to sift the affair to the bottom.

In the morning the leading burgesses met in council, and finding none who could give them any information, the mayor and two of the councilors repaired to the convent, where they asked for an interview with the lady abbess.  Mightily indignant were they at hearing that Sir Rudolph had attempted to break into the convent, and to carry off a boarder residing there.  But the abbess herself could give them no further news.  She said that after she retired from the window she heard great shouts and cries, and that almost immediately afterward the whole of the party in front hastily retired.

That Sir Rudolph had been attacked by a party of archers was evident; but whence they had shot, or how they had come upon the spot at the time, or whither they had gone, were mysteries that could not be solved.  In the search which the authorities made, however, it was discovered that the house of the draper, Master Nicholas, was closed.  Finding that summonses to open were unanswered, the door was broken in, and the premises were found in confusion.  No goods of any kind were discovered there, but many bales filled with dried leaves, bark of trees, and other worthless matters.  Such goods as had been displayed in the window had clearly been carried away.  Searching the house, they found signs that a considerable number of men had been concealed there, and although not knowing whence the body of archers could have come, they concluded that those who defeated the attempt of Sir Rudolph must have been hidden in the draper’s house.  The singularity of this incident gave rise to great excitement; but the indignation against Sir Rudolph was in no way lessened by the fact that his attempt had been defeated, not by the townsmen themselves, but by some unknown force.