During a truce between King Stephen and William’s father at the siege of Newbury Castle in 1152, William was taken as a hostage. William’s father immediately broke the truce by sending in reinforcements. Stephen’s entourage urged him to hang William at once, but the King was unwilling to execute the child without giving his father a chance to surrender Newbury.

But John Marshall, having four sons and a fruitful wife, considered the younest of his sons of far less value than a strong castle. He cheerfully told the King’s messenger that he cared little if William were hanged, for he had anvils and hammers with which to forge still better sons.

When he received this brutal reply, Stephen ordered his men to lead William to a convenient tree. Fearing that John planned a rescue, the King himself escorted the executioners with a strong force. William, who was only five or six years old, had no idea what this solemn parade meant. When the young William saw the Earl of Arundel twirling a most enticing javelin, he hased him for the weapon. The reminder of William’s youth and innocence was too much for Kint Stephen’s resolution, and taking the boy in his arms, the King carried him back to camp. A little later some of the Royalists had the ingenious idea of throwing William over the wealls from a siege engine, abut Stephen vetoed that scheme as well. He had decided to spare his young prisoner.

On the occasion of the coronation of Henry III, William Marshall is believed to have said, “By God’s sword, this advice is true and good, it goes straight to my heart, and if everyone else abandoned the King, do you know what I would do? I would carry him on my shoulders, step by step, from island to island, from country to country, and I would not fail him, not even if it meant begging for my bread.”

William Marshall was the third Earl of Pembroke, Marshall of England, Protector, Regent of the Kingdom. He was buried in the Temple Church in London, England.

Sir William Marshal, Named in the Magna Charta, 1215, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, born probably 1146, died 14 May 1219, buried in the Temple Church, London; Marshal of England, Protector of the Realm, Regent of the Kingdom, 1216-1219, a man of superior ability and exemplary character, son of John Marshal; married Aug 1189, isabel de Clare, died 1220, daughter of Richard de Clare, “Strongbow,” Earl of Pembroke, and Eva, daughter of Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster in Ireland. [Complete Peerage X, 358]532, pg 179-80