"How didst thou dare to come in, not having on the wedding garment?" asked the king, in a voice of thunder. "I did not come of my own accord to this debauch,"[218] answered the prisoner; "I was brought here by main force." [218] The expression used was somewhat broad--Hurenhochzeit. At these words, the king, transported with rage, drew his sword and smote off the head of the unfortunate reveller. The night was spent in dancing.[219] [219] Kerssenbroeck, p. 88 _et seq._; Heresbach, p. 139; Dorp. f. 398. Whilst the king was eating and drinking, the twenty-seven apostles were taking a tender farewell of their 124 legitimate wives,[220] and making their preparations to depart. [220] Evidence of Heinrich Graess. Dorpius says that the number of apostles was twenty-eight, and gives their names and the places to which they were sent, f. 398. When all was ready, they returned to Mount Zion; Bockelson ascended the pulpit, and gave them their mission in the following terms:--"Go, prepare the way; we will follow. Cast your florin of gold at the feet of those who despise you, that it may serve as a testimony against them, and they shall be slain, all the sort of them, or shall bow their necks to our rule." Then the gates were thrown open, and the apostles went forth, north and south, and east and west. The blockade was not complete, and they succeeded in traversing the lines of the enemy. However, the prince-bishop notified to the governors of the towns in his principality to watch them and arrest them, should they attempt to disseminate their peculiar doctrines.[221] [221] Kerssenbroeck, p. 89 _et seq._; Heresbach, pp. 89, 101, 141; Montfort., p. 35; Bullinger, lib. ii. c. 10; Sleidan, pp. 417-8; Hast, p. 368; "Historia v. d. Münst. Widerteuffer." p. 329 a. We shall have to follow these men, and see the results of their mission, before we continue the history of the siege of Münster. In fact, on their expedition and their success, as John Bockelson probably felt, everything depended. As soon as the city was completely enclosed no food could enter: already it was becoming scarce; therefore an attack on the Episcopal army from the flank was most essential to success; the palisades and ramparts recently erected sufficiently defending the enemy against surprises and sorties from the town. Seven of the apostles went to Osnabrück, six to Coesfeld, five to Warendorf, and eight, amongst whom was Dusentscheuer himself, betook themselves to Soest.[222] [222] For the acts of these apostles, Kerssenbroeck, p. 92 _et seq._; Menck. p. 1574; Montfort., p. 36 _et seq._; Sleidan, p. 418; Bullinger, lib. ii. c. 10; Heresbach, p. 149.