Eustace the Monk – A Chronological Summary of the Romance
Posted by Robert Fortunaso on 6/11/24
1. The opening lines of the Romance tell us that Eustace the Monk goes to the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Samer in the Boulonnais region, where he becomes a black monk. He journeys to Toledo to learn necromancy and becomes proficient in sorcery. We are told that he spent the winter and summer in Toledo underground in an abyss, where he speaks to the devil, who teaches him the black arts. Eustace learns to cast spells and use magic tricks against men and women, and he scares monks in the cloister. The Devil tells Eustace that he will hurt many people, wage war against kings and counts, and that he would be slain at sea.
2. Eustace decides to return to France, one night he comes to Montferrant (probably Clermont-Ferrand, west of Lyon), where he dines with a rich inn keeper. Eustace has three companions, and when they had eaten and it came to paying the bill, Eustace had no money in the local currency, only coins from Tours and Paris. The female inn keeper overcharged them, making them pay double for the meal. To get revenge, Eustace casts a spell on the female, and this is followed by several chaotic scenes:
She bares herself, sets up a food market in her house and invites the townspeople, who also bare themselves. The pins are removed from the barrels and wine flows through the streets. The people realize who is responsible for what has happened, so Eustace and his companions depart. They are followed by the angry mob, but a bearded old man who spent time in Toledo, casts a spell which causes a river to appear between the two parties. The chaos forces the people to retreat back to Montferrant, and Eustace and his companions follow them. Eustace enters the village and performs more trickery with the aid of the bearded old man, which causes a fight to break out between the people. The chaos abruptly ends when Eustace throws grain between them, and everything returns to normal; the wine returns to the barrels, the people cover themselves, then they go back to their houses.
3. Eustace goes on his way and begins a new adventure with his companions. They meet up with a carter who agrees, for a certain amount of money, to take them to the town that he is going to. Eustace and his companions enter the cart, but the carter goes at a brisk pace, that soon becomes bumpy and uncomfortable. Eustace tells the carter to slow down but he has to stick to his schedule, and he does not reduce speed. Eustace accepts the carter’s explanation, but at this point, the bearded old man reappears and casts a spell. This causes the carter to think he is going backwards; he strikes and curses the horses and becomes very agitated. Eventually he decides to waive the fee, and the passengers jump from the cart. The carter realizes that he has been deceived, he was actually moving forward, and the passengers had a free ride.
4. Next there is a section that recounts Eustace’s experiences as a monk at Saint-Samer:
Eustace disrupts the other monks and makes them misbehave. One day he goes before the abbot and asks if he can dine with him. The abbot calls Eustace a fool and threatens to have him beaten. In retaliation, Eustace goes to the kitchen and casts a spell, this turns a tin of water into blood. Next, he finds half a pig, and with another spell, it becomes an ugly old woman. The cook runs to tell the abbot, who sees the old woman; this causes the abbot and the whole convent to run away. Eustace takes some of the meat to his Neighbour, an inn keeper; they eat and drink and gamble.
5. Then we are told about the tale of Basin and Maugis, followed by some details about Eustace; where he was born, his father’s death, and his feud with the Count of Boulogne:
Eustace’s birthplace is given as Cors (probably Course, in the Boulonnais region) and his father is Bauduin Busquet, a peer of the Boulonnais, killed on the orders of Hainfrois de Heresinghen, who wanted to disinherit Bauduin. Eustace leaves the abbey when he learns that his father has been killed, and he goes to the Count of Boulogne. Eustace wants justice, he tells the count that Hainfrois had his father murdered. At Eustace’s request, Hainfrois is summoned to court. Eustace accuses Hainfrois of killing his father, which he denies. It is decided that a duel should take place; a vassal of Hainfrois called Eustace de Marquise is pitted against a nephew of Eustace’s father called Manesier. The battle was fierce; Eustace tells the Count of Boulogne that he does not condone the battle, and he leaves the scene. Mansier is killed, then we are told abruptly, that Eustace is put in charge of the count’s affairs and made seneschal of the Boulonnais. Hanfrois makes things difficult, he tells the count that Eustace has been stealing from him. Eustace is summoned before the count to answer the charges. He is willing to answer, but the count tells him to go to Hardelot to explain. Eustace sees this as betrayal, he refuses; the count threatens to put Eustace in prison; he departs on bad terms.
6. The feud between Eustace and the count intensifies:
The count seizes Eustace’s tenement and burns his gardens. Eustace swears revenge; one day he came to two mills outside Boulogne. His men stayed back, but Eustace enters one mill and finds a miller. He is threatened and told to go to the party for the marriage of Simon de Boulogne. Furthermore, he is to tell the count, a guest, that Eustace is going to make two candles to light up his mill. When the miller delivers the news, the count jumps up from his meal, and with other guests he races to his mills. Eustace leaves the scene; he is followed by the crowd, but they cannot catch him. The count’s two mills had been burnt down.
7. The first of Eustace’s many disguises:
One day Eustace was in Clairmarais where he learns that the count is going to Saint-Omer. In order to fool the count, Eustace dresses in a woman’s jacket; then he borrows two monks from the abbot and all three mount up and set off. Eustace meets up with the count between two valleys. They exchange greetings; Eustace follows the count to one of his properties; they sit down. Eustace (in disguise) pleads with the count to forgive Eustace (who is actually sitting beside the count). Unaware of his identity, the count becomes angry and refuses to forgive. The count asks for the stranger’s name, Eustace tells him that he is Brother Symon, a cellarer from Clairmarais. The count can see that the ‘Brother’ resembles Eustace, but amazingly, he does not make the connection. Eventually, Eustace and his two fellow monks go on their way.
8. The remaining sections of the Romance (apart from the last section) focus largely on Eustace’s adventures and escapades, involving the Count of Boulogne and others:
Eustace goes to the count’s stable.
Eustace rides off with Morel, the count’s horse.
The count and his knights chase after Eustace.
Eustace goes into hiding.
Eustace disguises himself as a shepherd and goes to guard a flock of sheep.
The count arrives and askes the shepherd (Eustace) if he has seen ‘a white monk on a black horse’ (Eustace). The ‘shepherd’ tells the count that a monk on a black horse is in the distance.
The count and his companions pursue Eustace at great speed.
The count races ahead of his companions and encounters the two monks who were previously with Eustace.
The two monks beg for mercy; the count has them bound and left laying down.
Eustace is in the forest; he encounters a boy leading a packhorse that belongs to the count.
Eustace cuts out the boy’s tongue and he runs off to the count. The boy cannot speak properly without his tongue, so it is difficult to tell the count what has happened.
The count finally realizes that the boy was the person who was leading his packhorses, and Eustace has taken them.
The count heads off to find Eustace.
The count passes through the forest of Hardelot.
Eustace has two spies, young boys he raised and cared for.
One of the young spies goes to the count in order to betray Eustace.
The other young spy discovers the treason and tells Eustace.
Eustace forces the treacherous young spy to hang himself.
The count arrives; Eustace speeds off on Morel, the count’s horse.
The count and his men chase after Eustace.
Two of Eustace’s men are arrested, and their eyes are taken out.
Eustace swears to take revenge.
The count goes to Saint-Omer.
Eustace captures five of the count’s men who were taking the two monks (previously with Eustace) to prison.
Four of the count’s men have their feet cut off; the fifth is released so that he can relay the news to the count.
The enraged count sends twenty of his knights into the forest to spy on Eustace.
Eustace dresses in a hair shirt and a hooded cloak.
Eustace encounters the twenty knights and tells them that he is going to see the count to complain about an evil monk (Eustace).
The knights tell Eustace (who is in disguise) that the count is at Hardelot.
Eustace travels to Hardelot and goes before the count, who is unaware of his identity.
Eustace tells the count that he had been robbed, and that his clothes and horse were taken by a monk.
The count realizes that the robber is Eustace (who is actually there with the count).
The count demands to be led to Eustace.
The count and six of his companions follow, they are led to a group of Eustace’s people.
The count realizes that he has been tricked; Eustace offers to make peace, but the count refuses.
The count is allowed to go free; he returns home.
One day the count was informed that Eustace had entered a certain castle; the count gathers his men, and they head for the castle; Eustace is aware that the count is coming; he exchanges his dark brown robe for a shabby cloak and departs.
Eustace encounters a man carrying hay, he buys most of it and carries it away.
Eustace pretends to be a hay seller; the hay he is carrying keeps him well covered.
Eustace hobbles past the count.
The hay seller (Eustace) informs the count that Eustace has left the castle; the count and his men mount up and chase after Eustace.
Eustace puts down the hay and follows the count and his men.
Eustace sees a boy leading one of the count’s horses; he mounts the horse and shouts ‘Here is the monk and I am going’.
Upon hearing this, the count cries out, but Eustace escapes.
One day the count goes to Hardelot with his men.
Eustace sets off after them with ten of his companions who are all disguised as pilgrims.
Eustace goes before the count and tells him that he and his companions have done much wrong but are now repentant.
The count gives Eustace some money (three sous); the count and his men enter his castle; they leave the horses outside.
Eustace takes all the horses and sets the town alight; the count is informed by a soldier; the penitents were responsible.
The count is enraged, and more than ever, he is determined to catch the monk (Eustace).
One day, Eustace encounters a merchant from Boulogne who had been to Bruges in Flanders; he was carrying sixty pounds in coins.
The merchant knew he was with Eustace the Monk, he did not feel safe and was concerned about his funds.
Eustace asks the merchant to tell him how much money he is carrying; the merchant replies; sixty pounds in one bag, and fifteen sous in (his) purse.
Eustace strips the merchant, takes him into the wood, and counts his money.
Eustace sees that the merchant was truthful, so he returns all of the money, and the merchant is set free, on the condition that he goes to the Count of Boulogne to deliver a palfrey; the tithe of his horses; but Eustace will keep nine of the best. Furthermore, the merchant is told to give the count three pennies; the tithe from the three sous that he had given to the pilgrims who had taken his ten horses and set fire to his town.
The merchant promises Eustace that he will do as he asked and immediately goes to the count.
The merchant tells the count about Eustace.
The merchant is held prisoner.
The count is convinced that the merchant is Eustace the Monk.
The merchant convinces the count that he is not Eustace.
The merchant is released, and he gives the count the horse and the three pennies.
Eustace goes to a charcoal maker and dresses in his clothes.
Eustace in disguise, meets up with the count and leads him and his men into the forest.
They encounter the charcoal maker who is dressed in Eustace’s clothing. He is mistaken for Eustace and assaulted.
The count realizes that Eustace has tricked him again, and he sends his men after him.
Eustace meets up with a potter.
Eustace gives the potter his charcoal and his donkey, and the potter gives Eustace his pots.
Eustace shouts; Pots, Pots (for sale).
The count encounters Eustace (disguised as a potter) and asks if he has seen Eustace the Monk.
Eustace tells the count that the monk is heading for Boulogne, leading a donkey laden with charcoal.
The count and his men spur on their horses.
The count and his men catch up with the potter (dressed as a charcoal maker) and they assume that he is Eustace.
The charcoal maker is severely beaten.
Some of the count’s knights recognize the potter, and after much ado, the count realized that he has been tricked again; the supposed charcoal maker is actually a potter.
The enraged count sends his men after Eustace (who is disguised as the potter) and they are to arrest everyone they find.
Eustace throws away his pots.
Eustace enters a bird’s nest and imitates a nightingale.
The count passes by and incredibly, the nightingale (Eustace) has a conversation with the count.
Eventually, the count goes off to get Eustace the Monk.
In his search for Eustace, the count has sixty people put in his prison.
The count goes to Neufchatel (probably part of the kingdom of Burgundy).
The count is followed by Eustace, who dresses as a woman.
Eustace goes to a soldier who is holding one of the count’s horses.
Eustace asks if he can ride the horse, with the promise of sex.
Eustace and the soldier ride off into the forest. The soldier asks for sex.
Eustace leads the soldier further into the forest, they both dismount; Eustace takes the soldier into a bog.
The soldier realizes that he has been tricked.
Eustace tells the soldier to return to the count to tell him what has occurred.
The soldier goes on his way, but he does not dare to return to the count; he flees to a foreign land.
One day Eustace was at Capiele (Coupelle-Vieille).
Eustace knew the count was looking for him.
Eustace put a lot of trust in a priest.
The priest accused Eustace to the count.
Eustace binds the priest hand and foot and throws him into a ditch.
One day the count came to Genos (Gennes-Ivergny?) taking with him King Philip and his army. He was accompanied by his son King Louis, who had many fine men.
The forces assembled at Sainte-Marie-au-bosc near Capiele (Coupelle-Vieille).
Eustace captures a burgess of Corbie and sends him to the king at Capiele (Coupelle-Vieille).
Eustace kills a knight.
The king complains to the count about Eustace.
The king has Eustace pursued but he cannot be caught.
The king goes to Sangatte.
The count and his men guard the king.
Eustace was praying in a town.
The spy of the count tells him about Eustace, who was spying on the king’s army that was passing by.
The count lies in wait for Eustace.
Eustace is informed by his spy.
Eustace sees a peasant nailing a fence.
Eustace takes the peasant’s old cloak and gives him his good robe.
Eustace continues to nail the fence.
The count approaches the peasant (Eustace in disguise) and asks if he has seen Eustace the Monk.
The peasant (Eustace) tells the count that Eustace has left the town, forced out by the king’s army, and has fled into the mountains.
Eustace goes to hide in the wood with his men.
They sit down to eat.
Hainfrois (who was responsible for the murder of Eustace’s father) goes into the wood to urinate; he finds Eustace and his men.
Eustace tells the terrified Hanifrois to dismount and join in the meal.
In an amazing act of mercy, Hanfrois is set free.
Hainfrois is told to inform the count that Eustace was the peasant nailing the fence.
Eustace dresses in the guise of a leper.
The count passes by; he and his knight give the leper (Eustace) some money.
The count’s boy servant is left behind with one of the horses.
Eustace steals the horse and rides off.
The servant tells the count, who realized that he has been tricked by Eustace, disguised as a leper.
The count orders a search for Eustace.
Eustace hides one of his legs by tying it to his buttocks, and he had a crutch. Also, he cut up a cow’s lungs, which he tied to his thigh with a bloodied bandage.
Eustace enters a monastery in the distance which is full of people; among them is the count himself.
Eustace (in disguise) approaches the count, tells him about his illness, and shows him his leg and his buttock.
The count gives Eustace some money.
Eustace gets more money from the knights.
Eustace leaves the monastery before the mass is sung.
Eustace escapes on the count’s horse.
The hue and cry is raised, the knights dash out, but Eustace has escaped again.
The count is left embarrassed and ashamed.
The count made all those present swear that if they catch Eustace, they will make him a prisoner.
One day it was snowing; Eustace was in a hamlet, but he had been spied on.
The count goes straight there with thirty fully armed men.
Eustace is warned by a young boy.
Eustace flees on the count’s horse, along with two of his companions.
The count follows Eustace’s tracks which show up in the snow.
Eustace had been to a blacksmith and had the horse’s shoes turned around.
The more Eustace went forward, the more the count went backwards.
The count eventually realized that he had been tricked, so he retraces his steps; this leads him to the blacksmith.
The count demands that the blacksmith hand over Eustace.
Eustace and his men had left.
The blacksmith begs for mercy; he does not know why Eustace wanted the horseshoes turned around.
The count tells the blacksmith to give him twenty pounds, or he will be hanged.
The blacksmith promises to pay up and offers a hostage.
The count passed through the forest of Hardelot.
Eustace was sitting at his meal in a monastery; three carpenters and a joiner are involved in its construction.
The count passed by; one of his soldiers ran to the monastery.
Eustace pretends to be a carpenter when he sees that the soldier is near.
Eustace emerges from the monastery and asks the soldier about the men that were passing by.
The soldier tells Eustace (who is pretending to be a carpenter) that they are looking for the monk that was born near Boulogne.
Eustace tells the soldier that the devilish monk is eating in the monastery.
The soldier asks Eustace to hold on to his horse.
The soldier enters the monastery, but he cannot find the monk (Eustace).
The soldier thought that he was being tricked.
Eustace mounts the soldier’s horse; the soldier tells Eustace to get down.
Eustace tells the soldier to return to the count on foot.
Eustace enters the forest.
After a long journey, the soldier appears before the count.
The count asks the soldier if he has captured the monk.
The soldier tells the count that Eustace has taken his horse and has escaped.
The count is enraged.
Eustace is in the forest.
The count goes straight for Eustace.
Eustace is riding Morel, the count’s horse.
The count follows Eustace like a demon.
Eustace spurred on Morel.
Morel leaps forward, but the saddle turns, and Eustace falls off.
Eustace fights valiantly, but is eventually restrained, bound hand and foot, and placed on a horse.
The count wants to hang Eustace.
The count asks his vassals; should Eustace be hanged or taken to the King of France.
The count’s vassals show support for Eustace and do not want him hanged.
It is decided that Eustace will be sent to the king (in Paris) to be judged.
The count arranges for a carter to take Eustace to the king.
Hugh de Gannes and thirty of his men are responsible for delivering Eustace.
The entourage journeys past Montreuil (a suburb of Paris).
Hugh de Gannes informs William de Fiennes that he can rescue Eustace below the bridge at Beaurain.
William de Fiennes and thirty of his companions go and rescue Eustace.
Eustace passes over the Canche (a river that flows from the plateau of southern Boulonnais and Picardy, into the English Channel).
Eustace encounters the Abbot of Jumièges.
Eustace asks the abbot about the amount of money he is carrying.
The abbot says only four marks of silver.
Eustace finds thirty marks or more.
Eustace returns four marks to the abbot and keeps the rest.
The abbot lost most of his money only because he lied.
One day the count was at Boulogne.
Eustace (in disguise) goes there with mackerel which he sells to the count’s soldiers.
To receive payment for his mackerel, Eustace goes to eat at court.
The soldier offers payment over a period of time; Eustace leaves wanting.
The count was dressed to go out and had his horses saddled.
Eustace takes four of the best horses and persuades three boys to go with him.
They ride out of Boulogne.
Eustace meets up with his soldiers.
The children dismount, and the four horses are led away.
The children return to Boulogne.
Eustace meets up with a soldier; he tells the soldier to relay to the count that he has four of his horses for the cost of Eustace’s mackerel.
The soldier tells the count; he is enraged and tries to catch Eustace, but as usual, he escapes.
Eustace becomes a flan, pastry, and cake seller.
One day the count was in Calais.
Eustace goes there at great speed.
In a house outside the town, Eustace makes a great fire.
Eustace and his squire make waffles, tarts, and dumplings.
The tarts are filled with a sticky substance.
The count was at his table eating.
Eustace (in disguise) takes his tarts before the count.
Eustace tells the count that the tarts are a present from a young man.
The present is taken; however, Eustace had put a letter in one of the tarts.
Eustace (in disguise) leaves the count. After the count has finished his meal, the tarts are brought to the table.
The count’s constable was the first to take a bite.
The constable is impressed, he tells his companions to dig in.
Their teeth become stuck in the sticky tarts, which are difficult to remove.
Eustace’s letter was found in one of the tarts; he was responsible.
Once again, the count has been humiliated.
The remaining section of the Romance focuses largely on Eustace’s adventures as a sea captain and a pirate:
Eustace goes to England in the guise of a hospitaller to seek help from King John.
Eustace lays down in front of the king and tells him that he brings word from Eustace the Monk, who prays the king will make him a household retainer.
The king promises to retain Eustace if he will swear to serve him faithfully.
The king wants a hostage; Eustace offers his daughter or his wife.
The king realizes that he is talking to the Monk (Eustace).
The king welcomes Eustace with open arms.
The king gives Eustace thirty galleys.
Eustace goes to the Channel Islands; after fierce battles, Eustace and his companions conquer the islands, drive the inhabitants out, and lay waste.
One day, Eustace was in Harfleur (Normandy region).
Eustace anchors his galleys; he enters into a boat with thirty of his companions and they row up the Seine.
They reach land and go to Pont-Audemer (Normandy region).
From the bridge to the east, Eustace dresses in his monk’s frock.
Eustace sees Cadoc, the seneschal of Normandy, with three hundred soldiers; they are guarding the bridges of the Seine to prevent Eustace from getting past.
Eustace sends for a barber; he has himself shaved on the bridge.
Eustace (in disguise) asks Cadoc what he would do if he became acquainted with the Monk.
Cadoc replies; he would return him to the king of France, who would have him crucified, or hanged, burned or drowned.
Eustace asks Cadoc to give him his cape; in return he will lead him to the monk.
Eustace dresses in Cadoc’s cape.
Cadoc mounts up with thirty of his men; Eustace leads them to the meadows near Pont-Audemer.
Eustace tricks Cadoc and his men; he tells them to apprehend a reaper who was working in the meadows, as they go towards him, they fall into a bog.
Cadoc and his men are trapped in the bog.
Eustace calls out to the reaper; he jumps into the bog to help Cadoc but is mistaken for Eustace and beaten.
Finally, Eustace reveals his identity to Cadoc.
Eustace returns to his boat.
Cadoc is rescued from the bog; he had three hundred men arm themselves.
Cadoc heads for Boulogne: he sends a hundred men on ahead to take care of Eustace.
Eustace creates a floodtide to protect himself.
Eustace goes to Barfleur (Normandy region) and extorts thirty marks from the islands and the rest of the region.
Eustace asks for a further three thousand marks.
Cadoc pursues Eustace and his ships.
Eustace turns back and takes five of Cadoc’s ships.
Cadoc retreats.
Eustace sets sail; off the port of Croufaut he encounters a very good rich ship.
Eustace attacks the ship; the crew is kidnapped.
Eustace returns the crew to their ship, after extorting some two hundred marks.
Eustace goes to England, straight to King John.
Eustace asks King John for a house.
The king gives Eustace a palace in London.
Eustace does not stay there very long; he has that palace knocked down.
Eustace employes more than four hundred workers to lay the foundations for a new palace, which cost a thousand silver marks before it rose above the ground.
The king became furious; Eustace had started to build a new palace.
The king relents and lends Eustace four hundred marks.
Eustace completes the building of his palace which was very rich and well made.
The Count of Boulogne comes to King John as a friend; the count had left on bad terms with the King of France.
Eustace sees the count, his arch enemy, and decides that it is time to return home.
The king has the sea watched so that Eustace cannot cross over to France.
Eustace takes a bow and a vielle and disguises himself as a minstrel; he wears a head dress and has a rod covered in leaves.
Eustace sees a merchant ship about to set sail; everyone was on board; Eustace decides to join them; he joined his feet and jumped in.
The sailor tells Eustace to get off.
Eustace says he will get off when the ship gets to the other side (France).
Eustace offers for the passage, five silver pennies or his vielle.
The sailor asks Eustace about his occupation; Eustace says he is a minstrel; he had lived in Northumberland and Ireland and drunk a lot of beer; now he wants to drink wine in Argenteuil and Provins.
The sailor asks Eustace for his name.
Eustace tells the sailor his name is Mauferas, an Englishman from Ganstead, and he loves cod.
The sailor says: ‘You are English, I do not care if you are French’.
The sailor asks Eustace if he knows any songs.
Eustace says he knows all the songs, but he is fearful of the sea and does not have the desire to perform.
No one askes Eustace any more questions; in the evening he arrives at Boulogne.
Eustace sets off at once, carrying a large box that contains a letter.
Eustace goes to the king of France and shows him the letter.
The king reads the letter; it reveals that the monk (Eustace) has come to France to send him greetings; Eustace is angry with King John, he killed his daughter, and the Count of Boulogne is in England; Eustace wants to serve the king of France.
The king (unaware of his identity) tells Eustace that if the monk comes from the sea and speaks with him, he can come and go in safety.
Eustace reveals his identity; the king does not see him as much of a Frenchman, he is little, but the king admits that he is brave and bold.
The king is reluctant to take Eustace into his service; Eustace swears that he will serve the king well and do nothing other than good.
Eustace becomes a good warrior for the king; he performs many devilish acts in the Islands and in the other parts.
Eustace helps King Louis cross the channel in his great ship.
Eustace, by his own efforts, and by himself, conquers the ship of Boulogne.
Eustace accompanies the king to Damme.
In that year the king loses his ships; Eustace is arraigned for this on the grounds that he had abandoned and betrayed his own; as Eustace knew, no one was brave enough to try and prove it; the charges are dropped.
On another occasion, Eustace sets sail across the channel in a large ship (accompanied by several other ships); with him was Raoul de Tournelle and Varlet de Montagui.
Eustace reaches the open sea; more than twenty English ships pass in front of him; they attacked Eustace’s fleet with great arrows and crossbows; Eustace and his men defended themselves by throwing the lance and firing crossbows.
Many Englishmen are slain, but Eustace is now in trouble.
The Englishmen try to board Eustace’s ship.
Eustace breaks arms and heads; one he kills, another falls, one he knocks down, another he crushes, and another he breaks his collarbone.
Eustace was being assailed from all sides.
With great axes, the Englishmen struck the side of Eustace’s ship, but still, they cannot get on board.
The Englishmen kicked large pots of ground lime; they fell and broke apart on the edge of Eustace’s ship.
The lime powder rose in a big cloud.
Eustace and his men can no longer defend themselves; they were facing the wind, and their eyes were full of powder.
The Englishmen jumped onto Eustace’s ship and treated his men very cruelly; all the barons were captured, and Eustace the Monk was beheaded; the battle was soon over.
The Romance ends with a moralistic message:
No one can live a long time
Who every day intends to do wrong.