while margaret was attempting to raise further support for the lancastrian cause in scotland, her principal commander, henry beaufort, 3rd duke of somerset, gained a major victory for her at the battle of wakefield on 30 december 1460 by defeating the combined armies of the duke of york and the earl of salisbury. both men were beheaded and their heads displayed on the gates of the city of york. as margaret was in scotland at the time the battle had taken place, it was impossible that she issued the orders for their executions despite popular belief to the contrary. she followed up with a victory at the second battle of st albans (at which she was present) on 17 february 1461. in this battle, she defeated the yorkist forces of richard neville, 16th earl of warwick, and recaptured her husband. it was after this battle that she, in a blatant act of vengeance, ordered the execution of two yorkist prisoners of war, william bonville, 1st baron bonville, and sir thomas kyriell, who had kept watch over king henry to keep him out of harm's way during the battle. the king had promised the two knights immunity, but margaret gainsaid him and ordered their executions by decapitation. it is alleged that she put the men on trial at which her son presided. "fair son", she allegedly asked, "what death shall these knights die?" prince edward replied that their heads should be cut off, despite the king's pleas for mercy.