THE FLEUR-DE-LYS 151 



sorte pour dcu le bleu firmament, resplendissant 

 d'astres d'or ; de m^me le roi de France, fils azne 

 de VEglise, forte pour la plus grande gloire du 

 Christ, r^cu le plus noble, dcu sur lequel les lis 

 d'or brillent comme les astres sur un del serein' ' 



Tradition says that the first appearance of 

 the fleur-de-lys upon this earth was at the 

 baptism of King Clovis. King Clovis was 

 married to Clotilda, a Christian Princess of 

 Burgundy, and her prayers having obtained the 

 victory for France at a critical moment, he in 

 gratitude became a Christian also. On the 

 occasion of his baptism by Saint Remi an 

 angel presented him with three heavenly 

 lilies. 



In the Bedford Missal," presented to Henry 

 VI when he was crowned King of France, the 

 legend is illustrated in miniature. The angel is 

 shown receiving the three lilies in Heaven. He 

 descends to earth and carries them to Saint 

 Remi, who reverently receives them in a napkin 

 and gives them to Queen Clotilda. Lower down 

 in the picture Clotilda presents the emblazoned 



^ Ragalium Franciae, Libro duo, 1545. 

 * In possession of Sir J. Tobin. 



