"One of the greatest military commanders of the medieval era raises his nose to the south-westerly breeze, detecting the familiar, faint stench of siege latrines. A March morning in 1199 and the setting is a rebel-held and rather insignificant fortification in Aquitaine, France, his mother’s ancestral lands, which went by the name of Châlus-Chabrol. A day’s ride from the town of Limoges and the rain has recently stopped. One imagines him giving little thought to the small-scale military operation in progress, his men besieging this forgettable outpost. Compared to the epoch-defining battles of the Third Crusade and his countless victories since his release from captivity in 1194, this was nothing really. Which is perhaps why he was complacent enough to leave his coif – his chainmail head and neck protection – back at his royal tent.  

A flicker of motion beyond amidst the castle crenelations… And at this point a crossbowman, their identity unrecorded in the annals of history, looses a bolt in optimism towards the indomitable Richard I. An inch from missing entirely, it strikes a flesh wound to his upper-left shoulder. Very much alive, Richard retires for treatment and bandaging, with all anticipating a full recovery in due course. The morning chorus no doubt soon returned to their birdsong, unaware of the unfolding drama.  

A fortnight later, however, and gangrene has set about its work. Within another few days, the mighty Lionheart is dead."

*** 

Richard I – Richard the Lionheart – is one of the best known of England’s medieval kings, despite, frankly, a devoted spate of absenteeism that saw him being physically present in England for only about 6 months of his 10-year reign: the callings of crusade and sibling rivalry drawing on his time overseas. Lions were, of course, a common motif in the heraldry of the day, being regularly used to symbolise the strength, courage and fighting prowess of those adopting the animal into their family emblems. The soubriquet ‘Lionheart’ or, more properly, ‘Coeur de Lion’, was therefore a mark of Richard’s qualities as a warrior and his strength of character which needed no further explanation. 

The values-based notion of Heart, as previously outlined earlier in term, is one of five that we have arrived at as sitting centrally within what we want for life at Pilgrims’. In exploring the dimension of this word that relates to a true kindness towards others, my message to the boys this week was that to show true Heart, one actually needs the strength, character and courage of a lion. Too easily, the idea of being kind, of putting the needs of another before your own, of expending dedicated care and energy into supporting the happiness and needs of another, is seen as a sign of a ‘weaker’, gentler individual. Nonsense. 

The paradox of kindness and a ‘servant heart’ requiring resolute strength of character is epitomised in Jesus. Referred to frequently as ‘the Lamb of God’ – symbolising his (quite literally) self-sacrificing character and purpose – Jesus is also referred to in the bible as ‘the Lion of Judah’. This speaks to his human lineage, with both ancestors David and Solomon being of the tribe of Judah within the people of Israel. The God-like nature associates with the sacrifice and gentleness of a lamb; the human nature more readily responds to the idea of the strength and courage of a lion. 

In appealing to the boys to understand the true strength of character required to be genuinely kind, I think one can do worse than encouraging them to be ‘lion-hearted’.  

As the weekend begins, we all enjoy a chance to rest a little and take stock after these first three weeks. If all the adults in our boys’ lives took a moment to reflect on how they might be more lion-hearted amongst their peers, I think that would be valuable time indeed. On which note, I wish you a very happy exeat. 

Tim Butcher
Headmaster