The Archer's gorget, arm pieces, and gauntlets, were of the finest steel, curiously inlaid with silver, and his hauberk, or shirt of mail, was as clear and bright as the frostwork of a winter morning upon fern or brier.

He wore a loose surcoat or cassock of rich blue velvet, open at the sides like that of a herald, with a large white St.Andrew's cross of embroidered silver bisecting it both before and behind; his knees and legs were protected by hose of mail and shoes of steel; a broad, strong poniard (called the Mercy of God), hung by his right side; the baldric for his two handed sword, richly embroidered, hung upon his left shoulder; but for convenience he at present carried in his hand that unwieldy weapon which the rules of his service forbade him to lay aside.
[St.Andrew was the first called to apostleship.

He made many converts to Christianity and was finally crucified on a cross of peculiar form, which has since been called the St.Andrew's cross.

Certain of his relics were brought to Scotland in the fourth century, and he has since that time been honoured as the patron saint of that country.

He is also the patron saint of the Burgundian Order, the Golden Fleece.] Quentin Durward--though, like the Scottish youth of the period, he had been early taught to look upon arms and war--thought he had never seen a more martial looking, or more completely equipped and accomplished man at arms than now saluted him in the person of his mother's brother, called Ludovic with the Scar, or Le Balafre; yet he could not but shrink a little from the grim expression of his countenance, while, with its rough moustaches, he brushed first the one and then the other cheek of his kinsman, welcomed his nephew to France, and, in the same breath, asked what news from Scotland.
"Little good tidings, dear uncle," replied young Durward; "but I am glad that you know me so readily." "I would have known thee, boy, in the landes of Bourdeaux, had I met thee marching there like a crane on a pair of stilts [the crutches or stilts which in Scotland are used to pass rivers.