The Knight-Errant

It was the eve of battle and young William Marshal, all but 16 years old (scholars, due to the lack of an actual birthdate, speculate that William's age range was between 16 to 20), was in a rushed ceremony for his knighthood. His cousin, William of Tancarville, delivered the colée (the knighting blow of the sword) and then gave as a gift to young William his finest horse.
 
Then, with his elder lord and cousin, William and fellow knights defended the village of Drincourt. When most knights fought for ransom or finance at the time, young William, to the cheers of the village, fought for it's freedom. His lord cousin watched in awe, pride swelling in his chest, as he saw young William charge forward, his steed was cut out from under him, rising to the battle, with broken lance in one hand and his sword in the other. William took lead in the charge, and drove the attack against the enemy army. His cousin was moved to tears, stating that, William fought like a true knight; not for reward, but for the liberation of these people.
 

 
Though quite heroic, later his acts would come to haunt him. While at a feast celebrating the victory, his cousin asked if William had a gift for him, as was custom at the time. William proclaimed, "Surely what?"
"A crupper, or a horse collar?"
"But God bless me, I have never owned one in all my life!"
"William, what are you saying? Today you had forty or sixty, before my own eyes! Will you refuse me?"
The company around a large banquet hall burst into laughter at William's expense. He had received his first lesson in surviving as a knight. The lesson was, a knight must survive financially in order to remain a knight. Though money was abhorred by knights, there was an understanding of its necessity in order to have weapons, horses, lodging and food.
 
But, within a short time, Marshal was devastated to find himself having to leave those he considered family. When his cousin, William of Tancarville, told him and all the new knights that they were no longer under his wing, that they were to now roam as knights and make their way through the world. He was once again alone.
 
With only a donkey that he paid for by selling his knighting cloak, William Marshal set off into the world alone with his only possessions. With the advice from his cousin, he ventured into his first tournament. There he was quite successful. Winning a new steed to replace the one killed in battle. But, when he was to be given his prize, he couldn't be found. Searching the entire grounds of the tourney, William was finally found in a blacksmith shop, having his helmet removed. It had been so tightly pounded onto his head that it threatened to kill him. The helmet was removed successfully and William now began going to tournaments regularly, and always winning.
 
Though successful as a knight in mock combat, William was still wearing the crest of Tancarville, though no longer a part of that household. This once again brought about a need of belonging. He traveled back to Britain where he knew Patrick, the Earl of Salisbury and his uncle on his mother's side, would have work for him as a knight. Upon arriving, he was greeted with great love from his uncle and family. He also was quickly into his first battle with his army. Now wearing the crest of Salisbury, William was once again across the channel into France where they were escorting Eleanore of Aquatain, queen wife of Henry II, as they were to suppress an uprising in her home land. Upon arrival, the curs attacked most cowardly from behind and killed William's uncle. Making certain that Eleanore was safely away from danger, William turned to see his uncle fall. He ran to his mortally wounded uncle's side and defended him against the encroaching assault, killing six men in mortal combat. But soon William was surrounded by some sixty men. He was finally downed when once again, one of the cowards speared his thigh from behind. The melee that followed left William physically scarred for life from the weapons. Now I should mention that these acts of attacking a knight, especially from behind, were frowned upon at the time by all the civilized world. To attack a knight in such a manner was considered immoral and a crime. But the villains who'd killed the earl, now stole away with the now wounded William. They hid him away in a dungeon where a local baroness, who had become enamoured with the young knight and his deeds, hid bandages inside a hollowed out loaf of bread so that he may bandage his wounds. This was the first mention within the text of 'The History of William Marshal" that a woman was taken with him.

William Marshal in battle as rendered by site author GR Kissell.

 
What occurs next was even more amazing. Eleanor of Aquatain then paid the ransom for William by returning six hostages for him. This now brings William into the household of the King of England.
 
Because of his prowess in battle, William finds himself at the top of the list to train Henry's eldest son, known as Henry the Younger, and William is placed in the 15 year old boy's charge. Though only a boy, Henry the Younger had already been crowned a king by his father and was also married to one of Philip Augustus's sisters. William trained young king for a time, and before long delivered the colée for young Henry's knighting. The two, and their entourage traveled Normandy enjoying the tourney. But, when a vicious rumor spread by jealous knights was spread that William was having an affair with young Henry's bride, William found himself out very quickly. Once again William was traveling the tourneys alone. Though he was successful in the tourney even more now, especially when he had joined forces with another knight and had successfully taken the tourney circuit by storm, the blight against his honor by the house of Henry still pained him. Especially when someone would bring it up in his presence.
 
Then, when he heard that both Henry's, father and son, would be holding a Christmas court near by, William took up matters of his honor with both men. He demanded that he be allowed to fight his accusers at the cost of his life or limb in trade so he may regain his honor. Henry the Younger refused him. So, before leaving the castle, William delivered this statement, "Since no man raises his head among those who have cast blame upon me, and since thus it is allowed, against the law of the land, since your court is entirely against me, who have nonetheless offered more than my due, I see indeed that I must seek elsewhere the place where I may live a better life. It is my pleasure, at least, that such a gathering can see with its own eyes that my rights have been taken from me." With that said, armed with safe conduct, William leaves the castle and the kingdom.
 
I am uncertain of how much effect that speech given by William to both Henrys, but within a very short time, Henry the Younger had sent his wife back to her brother Philip and young Henry sent a message begging William to return to his service.
 
The two put all the past events behind them and enjoyed the time they had together in the tourney. But when Marshal was away at one point, Henry the Younger was besieged in the Castle of Limoges, he sent for William. William took to horseback, with his squire, and headed back to young Henry's side. Enroute, we get a glimpse into the piety of William. He comes upon a couple, dressed in expensive clothes, riding along the same road. As expected of a knight, he checked to see why they traveled so. An uncommon occurrence for people of means. He discovers, to his dismay, that the man is actually a monk, eloping with a young woman from a village. Detesting this, he offers to take her back to her brother, whom William knows. She declines. He then asks how they intend to live. The monk tells William that he has many coins that he intends to loan out so that they may live on the interest. "Upon usury?!" William cries out, knowing that the catholic church considered usury a sin at the time. "By the sword of God! This will not do!" Now, because knights detested touching money, he orders his squire to take the monk's purse. William leaves the two alone on the road, cursing them for their sin and proceeds to the nearby village where he will meet up with two other knights who will join him in helping the young Henry. When he then meets up with two of his knights, he pays for their feast with the money and tells them of how he'd acquired it. One of them proclaims that what he did was not enough, that he should have taken their clothes and horses too, and that he shall go and find them to do so. William orders him not to, that he felt what he'd done was quite sufficient for their sin. We can derive from this that knights truly believed themselves to be representatives of God on Earth, set forth to not only fight for justice, but to dish it out to those they see as having sinned too.
 
By 1183, William had lost two of his brothers and his father. Henry the Younger also had taken ill. Calling William to his side, William now sees young Henry is on his death bed. Before passing, Henry requests William to take his crusader cloak to the holy sepulcher in Jerusalem and lay it there. With the blessing of Henry the father, as well as horses and money, William now headed off to Jerusalem, where he did as the young king had asked. But, William didn't return to England immediately. Instead he remained to fight alongside the Templar knights in Syria. There he developed a relationship that would remain strong even to his death.
 
Upon his return to France in 1187, Henry II requests William to join in his service. William becomes Henry's most respected counselor in his fight with Philip of France and Henry's son Richard (the Lion Heart). In 1189, Richard received word that an ill Henry was traveling to Chinon. In his excitement at having a chance to take his father for ransom, he leapt upon his horse, forgetting his weapons. When he reached the end of Henry's mesnie, William sees him. Turning angrily at Richard, William readied his lance. Richard now realizes his mistake of forgetting his weapons. He cries out, "By God's legs, Marshal, kill me not, that would be wrong for I am unarmed." William's answer was, "No. Let the Devil kill you for I shall not…" followed by William's lance being driven into Richard's horse, throwing Richard to the ground. An act of this kind, as well as the cursing a man to the Devil, was taken most seriously during this period.
 
Henry's gratefulness for William's chivalry, was the promise of marriage to the Isabel de Clare, heir to the Earl of Pembroke as well as all the properties. This would be William's first opportunity to own any kind of property. But before the promise can be carried out, Henry II was dead.
 
Now, riding in Henry's funeral procession, William must face Richard who is now King of England. Even though the coronation hasn't occured yet, all know that Richard is King. And William is concerned for his fate. But being a joyous occassion, Richard is in no mood for killing or imprisoning William. In fact, of all those whom had served Henry, William is the only one invited into what would become Richard's royal counsel. There, outside the church where the funeral is taking place, Richard confronts William.
"Marshal, the other day, you sought to kill me, and dead I would surely be if I had not turned your lance aside with my arm. That would have been an evil day for you"
"Sire, I had no intention of killing you, nor did I ever try to do so. I am still strong enough to direct my lance. If I had wished, I should have struck your body, as I did your horse. If I killed the horse, I did not do so by mistake, nor do I repent doing so."
"Marshal, I pardon you. Never shall I bear you rancor for it." This was said to William's relief. Then there was Henry's promise of Isabel and her dowry. Another officer brings this up immediately, "Sire, do not take it badly. I would remind you that the King, your father, gave her to Marshal." Richard's reply is sharp and quick, "By God's legs, he did not. He but promised to do so." Then he calms, "But I will give her to him freely. Both lady and lands."
 
Not only would Marshal escape corporal punishment, but he would finally receive the rewards for a life's work for a king paid in full.
 
Marshal had been landless and a celibate bachelor for some 45 years. But now it seemed his knight-errant days had finally come to an end, as does this chapter about his life.
 
[ To continue reading of the life of William Marshal, click the "The Marshal" link on the menu. ]
 
This site created and maintained by Gerry Kissell and is hosted by bladezone.
Read the Bibliography for the William Marshal Web site.