They then armed themselves again, packed up their baggage, and mounted their horses; and alter they had cruelly put to death sixty prisoners who were under confinement in the town, they departed for Guise. This very much rejoiced those who had won the castle, and they instantly examined into its strength and the great wealth it contained. They dispatched messengers to sir John de Luxembourg to come to their aid, who, without delay, collected as many men at arms as he could, and set out for Coucy. In the mean time, those who had sent for him resolved, nevertheless, not to let him enter the castle until he should promise that all the riches it contained should belong to them; and for this purpose, they sent the lord de Maucourt to meet him and declare their intentions, but who, in good truth, was afraid of telling him their resolution. On the arrival of sir John de Luxembourg before the castle, to his great surprise, it was not instantly opened to him, for the reasons above mentioned; and he was so displeased that he caused the lord de Maucourt to be arrested, reproaching him with a design of betraying him,--and if an executioner had been present, or any one who would have done the office, he would have had him immediately beheaded. Shortly after, however, through fear of him and his men, those within the castle opened its gates, and admitted him, excusing themselves for the delay the best way they could. He directly new-garrisoned it; and with regard to its wealth, he seized the greater part, and those who had conquered it were not much enriched thereby. At this time, the frontiers of Normandy, as far as Pontoise, Clermont, Beauvais, Mondidier, Bretueil, Amiens, Abbeville and St Valery, were overrun by the English, and wasted by fire and sword: sometimes, in their excursions, they carried off prisoners and considerable booties. The Normans now generally wore the red cross, which served them as a passport to go whither they pleased in security; and the Dauphinois also adopted the same badge. The party of the king and the duke of Burgundy were not idle; and thus the noble realm of France was, in divers places, torn in pieces by three different factions. The clergy and poor people were left defenceless, and had no other resource than to offer up their prayers lamentably to God their Creator, and patiently to wait his benign grace and pity. CHAP. XVIII. THE KING OF ENGLAND SENDS AN EMBASSY TO THE KING OF FRANCE AND THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY AT PROVINS.--OTHER MATTERS RELATIVE TO WHAT PASSED ON THE FRONTIERS.