Castruccio marches with the emperor. The two towns prior (Crena and Lodi) yield immediately, but Cremona puts up a slight resistance at first, and is punished for doing so. Custruccio is dismayed at the way the towns people are treated by the conquering army. He "sent men to the protection of several of the palaces, while he and Arrigo rode all night around town; and, having the watchword of the emperor, they succeeded in rescuring some poor wretches from the brutality of the insolent soldiers" (123).