The Unwavering Path of Truth

Sir William Marshal (1146? – 1219) was a great kshatriya knight of the medieval age, some say the greatest knight of the age. He is the character that many legendary fictional characters,…. Lancelot, Ivanhoe, Galahad etc are based on, in many story-books, magazines, film and television. My earliest known ancestor Sir Walter Sinnott (De Synad) would have certainly known him as they both held Baronies in Wexford, Ireland after the conquest of 1169 – 1172.

The life story of William Marshal is a fascinating read. He killed Richard The Lionheat’s horse from underneath him, after a javelin charge and on another occasion he aided the escape of Eleanor of Aquitaine (future Plantagenet Queen of England), after coming under attack by the knights of Guy De Lusignan (future King of Jerusalem, Malta and Armenia), resulting in the death of William Marshal’s uncle.

Even from when William was a 5 year old boy he was in danger as on this occasion King Stephen held the boy for surety that his father John Marshal would surrender the caslte of Newbury, but the father ,being indifferent to the boy’s fate, did not! This made the King very angry and arrangements were made to hang the boy and then later it was decided to hurl his live body over the castle walls with a catapult!
The young Marshal was a most charming boy who melted the Kings heart and fortunately gave up any idea to harm him in such a ghastly way.

Sir William Marshal’s life was one of exceptional valour and righteousness and many times during his long life, declined opportunities of wealth and power, in which the circumstances were not ‘above board’ or were against his principals. Such future fame and glory was not absent from his life (far from it!), and is surely the result of his honest, loyal and pious nature.
The last battle which he engaged in was in his 70th year, this was the extent of his commitment, tenacity and determination.

My earliest known ancestor Sir Walter Sinnott was also an Anglo-Norman Knight who left England for Ireland with Richard De Clare (Strongbow) and became governor of Wexford.
The Sinnotts built many castles in Wexford (as was the Norman military strategy) and gained many others also, such as Rosegarland Castle, which is still standing after 850 years. William Marshal (now well into his 40s) married Strongbow’s 18 year old daughter and inherited all of Strongbow’s estates.

William Marshal was knighted when he was 21 years old (and yet to “prove himself”). He was so poor as a young man that he was forced to sell one of his cloaks to replace a horse that died.
Although these stories are somewhat mundane, there are many instances where his conscience was tested, especially in his loyalty to Kings John and young Henry, who at times acted in a way that challenged Marshal’s sense of morality and good judgement. He, like all of us are subject to such imperfections and are constantly tested in our faithfulness to the truth.
The inspiration one gets from his life story is that he was very religious and true to his word, through times of the greatest uncertainty and adversity. He rose above these things as he was very forthright and never brought shame upon himself or his friends and family.

This is an inspirational story that reinforces my dedication and loyalty to His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his transcendentally divine mission. Neither thieves, nor the words of liars, hypocrites and those ‘who drink from the poison cup’, will cause me to doubt, ‘the bravest of the brave’, who came to the west with only a few pennies, at such an advanced age and with such strong conviction of the constant protection of The Supreme Lord. Such compassion for a worthless, fallen soul such as myself, causes me so much to to love Srila Prabhupada and declare my never-ending devotion and unwavering commitment to this divine soul who is the embodiment of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy.

By looking back at history we can be inspired to look at ourselves, our present situation and reinforce what is true and spiritually beneficial. Let the miscreants be crushed and destroyed by the sublime truth which His Divine Grace, Srila Prabhupada has presented in his original books and audio/visual messages. We all of us owe a great debt to His Divine Grace, which can never be repaid as his compassion, knowledge and protection is fathomless and eternal.

All glories to the present and only Diksa Guru and Acharya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!

Sudarsana Das Vanacari