About the space of a month or more the Prince of Wales (Edward the Black Prince) was before Limoges and there was neither assault nor skirmish but daily they mined. And they within knew well how they were mined and made a countermine thereagin to have destroyed the English miners, but they failed their mine. And when the princes miners saw how the countermine against them had failed they said to the prince: “Sire whensoever it shall please you we shall cause a part of the wall to fall into the dykes whereby ye shall enter into the city at your ease without any danger.” Which words greatly pleased the prince and he said : “I will that tomorrow betimes ye shew forth and execute your work.” Then the miners set fire into their mine and so the next morning as the prince had ordained there fell down a great pane of wall and filled the dykes whereof the Englishmen were glad and were ready armed in the field to enter the town. The footmen might well enter at their ease and so they did and ran to the gate and beat down the fortifying and barriers for there was no defence against them: it was done so suddenly that they of the town were not aware thereof. Then the prince, Duke of Lancaster, the Earl of Cambridge, Earl of Pembroke, Sir Guichard d’Angle and all the others with their companies entered into the city, and all of the other footmen ready apparelled to do evil and to pill and rob the city and to slay men, women and children, for so it was commanded them to do. It was a great pity to see the men women and children that kneeled down on their knees before the prince for mercy; but he was so inflamed with ire that he took no heed to them, so that none was heard, but all put to death as they were met withal and such as were nothing culpable. There was no pity taken of the poor people who wrought no manner of treason yet bought it dearer than the great personages such as had done the evil and trespass. There was not so hard a heart within the city of Limoges, an if he had any remembrance of God, but that wept piteously for the great mischief that they saw before their eyes. For more than three thousand men, women and children were slain and beheaded that day. God have mercy on their souls for I trow they were martyrs.

Chronicles of Froissart (ed Berners)