When Tristan found himself in front of the church, it seemed to him that if he could get inside, God would somehow
come to his aid. Then his fear of death gave him such strength that he succeeded in breaking the rope with which he was
bound; and as soon as he felt himself free, he seized hold of a sword which one of the churls was carrying and snatched it from him, and with it instantly struck one of the men so hard that he knocked him down dead.

Prose Tristan