The only thing which now remained was for Ambrose, with the Superior and Brothers, to receive the Blessed Sacrament, and they had all to give him the kiss of peace, in token that he was received as a Brother in their community. But at eleven o’clock the solemn function was suddenly interrupted. Some of the work-people rushed into the church and shouted: ‘The enemy is at our gates!’ And a banging of axes on the wooden walls was at the same moment heard within the church. In place of the most solemn silence, there now reigned a most uproarious alarm. The servants of the monastery rushed from the church, and ran to their different dwellings to arm themselves with what weapons they possessed, while the soldiers battered away at the gate of the wooden wall which surrounded the church and other buildings. It was not long before they burst it open and rushed into the courtyard. Being better armed with swords and guns, they speedily overpowered the servants of the monastery, and drove some of them back into the church, and others into their own dwellings, or into those of the monks. Some of the ruffians pursued them from room to room, and murdered the defenceless people, and then plundered whatever seemed to be of any value, and set fire to the buildings. In the meantime, the monks, with some of the work-people, were collected in the church. The leader of the troop, with a portion of his band, broke through the slender walls and entered the outer church; but the doors into the chancel were stronger, and withstood their attack for a while. They well knew that the money and other treasures would be found in the church, and particularly in the Sanctuary, or Holy Place. They therefore surrounded the church, so that nobody should escape through any secret door, while they continued to batter at the door leading to the chancel. In the meanwhile, the monks’ and servants’ dwellings were burning, and the smoke came down over the church and enveloped both besieged and besiegers in a thick white mist.