“... whilst discussions were still going on with the barons about the release of those in the city who were deemed to be Catholics, the ribauds and other persons servants and other persons, of low degree and unarmed, attacked the city without waiting for orders from their leaders. To our amazement, crying 'to arms, to arms!', within the space of two or three hours they crossed the ditches and the walls and Béziers was taken. Our men spared no one, irrespective of rank, sex, or age, and put to the sword almost 20,000 people. After this great slaughter the whole city was despoiled and burnt ...”