others. Through the portal
whence the previous actors had made their entrance, came a giant
larger without artifice than any I had ever seen, clad in a long
green silk robe, a turban on his head like a Saracen in Granada.
His left hand held a great, old-fashioned two-bladed axe, his
right hand led an elephant covered with silk. On its back was a
castle wherein sat a lady looking like a nun, wearing a mantle of
black cloth and a white head-dress like a recluse.[7]

"Once within the hall and in sight of the noble company, like one
who had work before her, she said to the giant, her conductor:

"'Giant, prithee let me stay
For I spy a noble throng
To whom I wish to speak.'

"At these words her guide conducted his charge before the ducal
table and there she made a piteous appeal to all assembled to come
to rescue her, Holy Church, fallen into the hands of unbelieving
miscreants. As soon as she ceased speaking a body of officers
entered the hall, Toison d'Or, king-at-arms, bringing up the rear.
This last carried a live pheasant ornamented with a rich collar of
gold studded with jewels. Toison d'Or was followed by two maidens,
Mademoiselle Yolande, bastard daughter of the duke, and Isabelle
of Neufchatel, escorted by two gentlemen of the Order. They all
proceeded to the host. After greetings, Toison d'Or then said:

"'High and puissant prince and my redoubtable lord, here are
ladies who recommend themselves very humbly to you because it is,
and has been, the custom at great feasts and noble assemblies to
present to the lords and nobles a peacock or some other noble bird
whereon useful and valid vows may be made. I am sent hither with
these two demoiselles to present to you this noble pheasant,
praying you to remember them.'

"When these words were said, Monseigneur the duke, who knew for
what purpose he had given the banquet, looked at the personified
Church, and then, as though in pity for her stress, drew from his
bosom a document containing his vow to succour Christianity, as
will appear later. The Church manifested her joy, and seeing that
my said seigneur had given his vow to Toison d'Or, she again burst
forth forth into rhyme:

"'God be praised and highly served
By thee, my son, the foremost peer in France.
Thy sumptuous bearing have I c