inority of King Henry III. The barons, who were in arms against his
father King John, had called Louis, son of Philip Augustus, king of the
French, to their aid. Having been recently defeated in Lincoln, they
were hard pressed, and reinforcements were sent to them from Calais in a
fleet commanded by a pirate and mercenary soldier called Eustace the
Monk. His real name is uncertain, but according to the chronicle of
Lanercost it was Matthew. He passed the Straits of Dover with a numerous
flotilla laden with military machines and stores, and also carrying many
knights and soldiers. The Monk's fleet was seen from Dover, where the
regent, Hubert de Burgh, lay with a naval force of the Cinque Ports,
said to have been very small. Sixteen vessels of large size for the
time, and a number of smaller craft, is said to have been their total
strength. But medieval estimates of numbers are never to be trusted, and
the strength of the Cinque Port squadron was probably diminished to
exalt the national glory. It put to sea, and by hugging the wind gained
the weather gage of the French adventurer. Eustace is said to have been
under the impression that they meant to attack Calais in his absence,
and to have derided them because he had left the town well guarded. When
they were to windward of his fleet the Cinque Port ships bore down on
the enemy. As they approached they threw unslaked lime in the air and
the wind blew it in the faces of the French. This form of attack, and
the flights of arrows discharged by the English (which flew with the
wind), produced confusion in the crowded benches of the French vessels,
which in most cases must have been little more than open boats. It is
further said that in some cases at least the English vessels were
"bearded," that is to say, strengthened by iron bands across the bows
for ramming, and that they sank many of the French. The Monk was
certainly defeated, and his fleet was entirely scattered, sunk or taken.
His own vessel was captured. Eustace, who had concealed himself in the
bilge, was dragged out. In answer to his appeals for quarter and
promises to pay ransom, he was told by Richard, the bastard son of King
John, that he was a traitor who would not be allowed to deceive more
men. His head was struck off by Richard, and was sent round the ports on
a pike. The Cinque Port seamen returned in triumph, towing their prizes,
after throwing the common soldiers overboard, and taking the knights to
ranso