'In the night before the battle of Durham was strucken and 
      begun, the 17th day of October, 'anno' 1346, there did appear to 
      John Fosser, then Prior of the abbey of Durham, a Vision, 
      commanding him to take the holy Corporax-cloth, wherewith St. 
      Cuthbert did cover the chalice when he used to say mass, and to 
      put the same holy relique like to a banner-cloth upon the point of 
      a spear, and the next morning to go and repair to a place on the 
      west side of the city of Durham, called the Red Hills, where the 
      Maid's Bower wont to be, and there to remain and abide till the 
      end of the battle. To which vision the Prior obeying, and taking 
      the same for a revelation of God's grace and mercy by the 
      mediation of Holy St. Cuthbert, did accordingly the next morning, 
      with the monks of the said abbey, repair to the said Red Hills, 
      and there most devoutly humbling and prostrating themselves in 
      prayer for the victory in the said battle: (a great multitude of 
      the Scots running and pressing by them, with intention to have 
      spoiled them, yet had no power to commit any violence under such 
      holy persons, so occupied in prayer, being protected and defended 
      by the mighty Providence of Almighty God, and by the mediation of 
      Holy St. Cuthbert, and the presence of the holy relique). And, 
      after many conflicts and warlike exploits there had and done 
      between the English men and the King of Scots and his company, the 
      said battle ended, and the victory was obtained, to the great 
      overthrow and confusion of the Scots, their enemies: And then the 
      said Prior and monks accompanied with Ralph Lord Nevil, and John 
      Nevil his son, and the Lord Percy, and many other nobles of 
      England, returned home and went to the abbey church, there joining 
      in hearty prayer and thanksgiving to God and Holy St. Cuthbert for 
      the victory achieved that day."
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        This battle was afterwards called the Battle of Neville's Cross 
      from the following circumstance:--
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        "On the west side of the city of Durham, where two roads pass 
      each other, a most notable, famous, and goodly cross of stonework 
      was erected and set up to the honour of God for the victory there 
      obtained in the field of battle, and known by the name of Nevil's 
      Cross, and built at the sole cost of the Lord Ralph Nevil, one of 
      the most excellent and chief persons in the said battle." The 
      Relique of St. Cuthbert afterwards became of great importance in 
      military events. For soon after this battle, says the same author, 
      "The Prior caused a goodly and sumptuous banner to be made," 
      (which is then described at great length) "and in the midst of the 
      same banner-cloth was the said holy relique and corporax-cloth 
      enclosed, etc., and so sumptuously finished, and absolutely 
      perfected, this banner was dedicated to Holy St. Cuthbert, of 
      intent and purpose that for the future it should be carried to any 
      battle, as occasion should serve; and was never carried and showed 
      at any battle but by the especial grace of God Almighty, and the 
      mediation of Holy St. Cuthbert, it brought home victory; which 
      banner-cloth, after the dissolution of the abbey, fell into the 
      possession of Dean WHITTINGHAM, whose wife, called KATHARINE, 
      being a French woman (as is most credibly reported by eye-
      witnesses), did most injuriously burn the same in her fire, to the 
      open contempt and disgrace of all ancient and goodly reliques."--
      Extracted from a book entitled "Durham Cathedral, as it stood 
      before the Dissolution of the Monastery." It appears, from the old 
      metrical History, that the above-mentioned banner was carried by 
      the Earl of Surrey to Flodden Field.