The Man of Law's Tale

The Man of Law's Tale Summary

"The Man of Law's Tale" (or "The Lawyer's Tale") in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" is a narrative about faith, providence, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

Here's a modern English summary:

The tale takes place in Rome and begins with the Emperor, who has a daughter named Custance. She is of exemplary character, possessing great beauty and virtue. A Sultan from Syria hears of Custance and decides he must marry her. In his zeal to do so, the Sultan and his nobles convert to Christianity, as this is a condition set by the Emperor for the marriage.

After the marriage, Custance leaves Rome and sets sail for Syria. However, the Sultan's mother, who is against her son's conversion to Christianity, orchestrates a massacre during the wedding feast, killing her son and all the converted Muslims. She spares Custance, who is set adrift at sea in a rudderless ship, equipped with enough provisions for survival.

The ship eventually lands in Northumberland, which is a pagan kingdom. Custance is discovered by the constable of the castle and his wife, Hermengyld. They are kind to her and are eventually converted to Christianity by her, even though she never explicitly seeks to convert them. A young knight falls in love with Custance but is rejected. In anger, he murders Hermengyld and frames Custance for the crime.

Custance is put on trial but is saved by a divine miracle when the murder weapon flies out of the knight's hand and kills him, proving her innocence. The king of the land, Alla, is impressed by her and marries her. They have a son, Mauritius. However, due to the scheming of Alla's mother, Donegild, the news of the birth is misrepresented to Alla, who is away at the time, and Custance and her child are again set adrift at sea.

Custance eventually lands in a far-off region, where a local ruler tries to take advantage of her. However, divine intervention saves her, and the ruler is killed. In the meantime, Alla discovers his mother's deceit and kills her. He then goes in search of Custance.

Custance's ship arrives back in Rome, coinciding with a visit from Alla and the Northumbrian entourage. They recognise each other, and the family is joyfully reunited. Alla dies a year later, and Custance returns to Rome. The story ends with the narrator telling that their son, Mauritius, eventually becomes a Roman Emperor.

The Man of Law's Tale, with its emphasis on faith and divine providence, contrasts the bawdy tales of the Miller and the Reeve. It is a serious narrative focusing on religious themes and the struggles faced by an innocent woman in a cruel world.

Related pages

• The Canterbury Tales

Browse the library

Stories and literature

Subject index | Stories and literature | All articles A-Z