InJune1189KingHenryⅡofEnglandwasfacinganattackfromtheFrenchunderPhilipⅡinleaguewithHenry'sson,Richard,laterknownastheLionheart.HenrywasretreatingfromLeMansandRichardwasleadingthepursuit.ButsoprecipitatewasthechasethatRichardhadneglectedtowearhisarmourandwhenhecaughtupwithHenry'srearguardhefounditwascommandedbyWilliamMarshal,amosthighlyregardedknight.MarshalwheeledbacktofaceRichardandtoppledhimfromhishorse.Richard,knowingthereputationofthisgreatknight,pleaded:“BythelegsofGod,Marshal,donotkillme!Iamnotarmed.”Marshallookedathimscornfullyforamomentandthen,insteadofstrikinghim,plungedhislanceintoRichard'shorse.“No,Iwillnotkillyou,”hesaid,“butIhopetheDevilwill.”
一一八九年六月，英王亨利二世遭法王腓力二世軍隊攻擊。亨利的兒子理查後來號稱獅心王，當時和腓力勾結，見亨利從勒芒撤退，就率兵追趕，匆忙間沒有穿上甲冑。他追上亨利的後衞，看見威廉．馬歇爾負責殿後。馬歇爾是名震一時的武士，掉轉馬頭，迎戰理查，把他擊墮馬下。理查知道這位武士的威名，求饒說：「天可憐見，馬歇爾，饒我一命吧。我沒有武裝。」馬歇爾一臉鄙夷神氣，望了望他，沒下殺手，只是一矛刺進理查的坐騎身上，說：「好吧，饒你不死，但我希望魔鬼取你性命。」
【附注】League是「聯盟」，inleaguewithsomeone就是「與某人聯盟」，常指聯手做壞事，例如：Thecapitalistsareinleaguewiththecommunists（資本家和共產黨勾結）。