one of the four Evangelists, finely set forth and carved. The boss at
the top of the stalk was an octangular stone, finely cut and bordered,
and most curiously wrought; and in every square of the nether side
thereof was Neville's Cross, in one square, and the bull's head in the
next, so in the same reciprocal order about the boss. On the top of the
boss was a stalk of stone, (being a cross a little higher than the
rest,) whereon was cut, on both sides of the stalk, the picture of our
Saviour Christ, crucified; the picture of the Blessed Virgin on one
side, and St. John the Evangelist on the other; both standing on the top
of the boss. All which pictures were most artificially wrought together,
and finely carved out of one entire stone; some parts thereof, though
carved work, both on the east and west sides, with a cover of stone
likewise over their heads, being all most finely and curiously wrought
together out of the same hollow stone, which cover had a covering of
lead."

[Illustration: (_Percy's Cross_.)]

The second specimen (_see the Cut_) stands by the side of the
highway over Hedgeley Moor, in the adjoining county of Northumberland.
This Cross is a record of the War of the Roses. Here, in one of the
skirmishes preliminary to the celebrated victory at Hexham (May 12,
1464), Sir Ralph Percy was slain, by Lord Montacute, or Montague, brother
to the Earl of Warwick, and warden of the east marches between Scotland
and England. His dying words are stated to have been, "I have saved the
bird in my breast:" meaning his faith to his party. The memorial is a
square stone pillar, embossed with the arms of Percy and Lucy: they are
nearly effaced by time, though the personal valour of the hero is
written in the less perishable page of history.