This man was armed with a sword and dagger; and underneath his plain habit the Scotsman observed that he concealed a jazeran, or flexible shirt of linked mail, which, as being often worn by those, even of peaceful professions, who were called upon at that perilous period to be frequently abroad, confirmed the young man in his conjecture that the wearer was by profession a butcher, grazier, or something of that description, called upon to be much abroad.
The young stranger, comprehending in one glance the result of the observation which has taken us some time to express, answered, after a moment's pause, "I am ignorant whom I may have the honour to address," making a slight reverence at the same time, "but I am indifferent who knows that I am a cadet of Scotland; and that I come to seek my fortune in France, or elsewhere, after the custom of my countrymen." "Pasques dieu! and a gallant custom it is," said the elder stranger.
"You seem a fine young springald, and at the right age to prosper, whether among men or women.

What say you?
I am a merchant, and want a lad to assist in my traffic; I suppose you are too much a gentleman to assist in such mechanical drudgery ?" "Fair sir," said the youth, "if your offer be seriously made--of which I have my doubts--I am bound to thank you for it, and I thank you accordingly; but I fear I should be altogether unfit for your service." "What!" said the senior, "I warrant thou knowest better how to draw the bow, than how to draw a bill of charges--canst handle a broadsword better than a pen--ha!" "I am, master," answered the young Scot, "a braeman, and therefore, as we say, a bowman.

But besides that, I have been in a convent, where the good fathers taught me to read and write, and even to cipher." "Pasques dieu! that is too magnificent," said the merchant.

"By our Lady of Embrun [a town in France containing a cathedral in which was a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, said to have been sculptured by St.Luke], thou art a prodigy, man!" "Rest you merry, fair master," said the youth, who was not much pleased with his new acquaintance's jocularity, "I must go dry myself, instead of standing dripping here, answering questions." The merchant only laughed louder as he spoke, and answered, "Pasques dieu! the proverb never fails--fier comme un Ecossois [proud or haughty as a Scotchman]--but come, youngster, you are of a country I have a regard for, having traded in Scotland in my time--an honest poor set of folks they are; and, if you will come with us to the village, I will bestow on you a cup of burnt sack and a warm breakfast, to atone for your drenching .-- But tete bleau! what do you with a hunting glove on your hand?
Know you not there is no hawking permitted in a royal chase ?" "I was taught that lesson," answered the youth, "by a rascally forester of the Duke of Burgundy.

I did but fly the falcon I had brought with me from Scotland, and that I reckoned on for bringing me into some note, at a heron near Peronne, and the rascally schelm [rogue, rascal (obsolete or Scotch)] shot my bird with an arrow." "What did you do ?" said the merchant.
"Beat him," said the youngster, brandishing his staff, "as near to death as one Christian man should belabour another--I wanted not to have his blood to answer for." "Know you," said the burgess, "that had you fallen into the Duke of Burgundy's hands, he would have hung you up like a chestnut ?" "Ay, I am told he is as prompt as the King of France for that sort of work.