Northumberland
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Saint and King Oswald in martial array, crowned and bearing a sword in his right hand and a cross in his left all or wearing a mantle gules, lined azure
St Oswald lived in the seventh century. He was King of Northumbria and disiple of St Aidan. He gained a victory against Cadwalla, a British prince, after having his own hands erected a cross before which he and his troops knelt in prayer. He was very charitable to the poor and one day in St Aidan's presence, gave the silver dish out of which he was eating to three beggars, whereupon St Aidan seizing his right had said "may this hand never perish". This prayer was granted when Oswald fell in battle against the Mercian's his enemies cut off his head and hands and put them on stakes. They were afterwards rescued, the hands being preserved in Bambough castle, while the head was kept as a relic in the shrine of St Cuthbert.
