Whoever chooses may take him...

Over the winter of 1244-45 warfare continued to rage in Wales. A remarkably complete account survives of the expenses of John Lestrange, justice of Chester, in his efforts against Prince Dafydd ap Llywelyn. The account lists the payments made to mounted and foot serjeants in rescuing the castles of Dyserth and Mold from Dafydd, implying the prince focused his efforts on these two strongholds. He had hoped to gain Mold via arbitration with Henry III in 1241, but was disappointed.

Henry managed to keep his garrisons in Wales supplied over the winter, and the conflict started to drift into stalemate. Then, on 5 February 1245, the Welsh gained a victory over the southern Marcher army, led by Herbert Fitz Matthew. On the night before the battle, Herbert is said to have experienced a premonition of his death, and in the morning said to his comrades:

“Many times have I indulged in the use of arms, and exposed myself to the dangers of war, but today, as I sincerely believe, my oft-repeated feats of arms will be brought to a final close.”

After this less than inspiring speech, Herbert led his men into a narrow pass between Margam and Aberafan near Baglan castle. The local Welsh were lying in wait, and from the crags hurled stones and javelins down at the English as they struggled through the pass. Herbert was buried under a mass of rock, and his men halted to bury him on the spot.

Another version of the tale says that Herbert was only knocked off his horse, and the Welsh came down to capture him. They fell to arguing over who should take him prisoner, until one of them stabbed him from behind and declared:

“Now, whoever chooses may take him.”

His body was stripped naked and only recognised the next day by an emerald ring. Shortly afterwards the fortunes of war swung the other way, and three hundred of Prince Dafydd’s men were slaughtered in an ambush near Montgomery. Dafydd stuck to his task and finally captured Mold castle on 28 March 1245. The constable, Roger Monthaut, had escaped before the castle fell, and both sides now took to butchering innocents, with neither party showing any respect to age, sex or rank.