One of the earliest Wild Hunt tales was written by Walter Map, a Herefordshire man, in about 1190. In it an ancient British King named Herla was about to be married when the King of the Dwarves riding a goat asked if he could come to the wedding. "Sure", said Herla graciously, and the dwarf asked him in return to come to his a year later. The next year the King of the Dwarves came back to lead the king and his retinue to his place - a cave in a cliff by the Wye. After three days of feasting Herla and his men left with gifts, including a bloodhound which he was to carry on his saddle with him until he chose to jump down. Only then were the king's men allowed to dismount.

On their way home Herla asked an old shepherd for news of his wife. The Shepherd explained he could only just understand Herla as he was Saxon, but the only woman of that name was the wife of an ancient British King who had disappeared near that very spot centuries ago. Some of Herla's men choosed to dismount and turned to dust, so Herla and the rest rode on until the bloodhound jumped down - he never did. were thus doomed to wander the earth forever Herla led his men on wandering the earth through the centuries, until the time of Henry II when they reputedly rode into the Wye and vanished.

"This household of Herlethingus was last seen in the marches of Wales and Hereford in the first year of the reign of Henry II, about noonday: they travelled as we do, with carts and sumpter horses, pack-saddles and panniers, hawks and hounds, and a concourse of men and women.

"Those who saw them first raised the whole country against them with horns and shouts, and . . . because they were unable to wring a word from them by addressing them, made ready to extort an answer with their weapons. They, however, rose up into the air and vanished on a sudden."

Some trace 'Herle' back to Herian, a name of Woden/Odin as lord of the troops of warriors (ON herjar) who thronged Valhalla.

Some suggest the element Herle relates to Herian, one of Odin's many names, and refers particularly to his role as the leader of the dead warrior who filled the Hall of Heroes - Valhalla. In 1123, for example, it was referred to as the familia Herlechini by Ordericus Vitalis. In France it was La Mesnie Herlequin while in England we find Milites Herlewini.