Complete Extant Works of Saint Ambrose, Vol. I

...by the tribunes sent by the emperor. Meanwhile, the pontiff ascended to the altar to pray for the people and the emperor at the same time, responding to the Counts who were pressing him: "If the emperor asked from me what was mine, that is, my estate, my silver, or anything of this kind of mine, I would not resist, although all things that are mine are truly the poor's: but those things which are divine are not subject to imperial power. If my patrimony is sought, invade it: if my body is sought, I will meet you: do you wish to drag me into chains? Do you wish to drag me to death? That is a pleasure to me. I will not surround myself with a crowd of people, nor will I hold onto the altars begging for my life, but I will be sacrificed more gratefully for the altars." (Epistle 20, no. 8)

The people spent the night in the church, sometimes looking up at the pontiff as he preached, sometimes singing the verses of the sacred Psalms in alternating turns, from which it is believed the custom of psalmody became prevalent in the Church. The more he was agitated, the more Ambrose rejoiced; sometimes he persuaded the people to patience, setting before them the patience of Job; sometimes he reported what he had thought best to answer the emperor; sometimes, seeing the Gothic soldiers themselves prostrate in the church, he longed to exalt with profuse praises the mercy of God, whose nature it is to change hearts. When a death threat was made by Calligonus, the Chamberlain, he immediately replied: "God..."