He was garbed and harnessed after a fashion that proclaimed him half-knight, half-peasant, and caused the castle lacqueys to eye him with amusement and greet him with derision.

Lacqueys are great arbiters of fashion.
"In a loud, imperious voice this cockerel called for Giovanni, Lord of Pesaro, whereupon, resenting the insolence of his manner, the men-at-arms would have driven him out without more ado.

But it chanced that from one of the windows of his stronghold the tyrant espied his odd visitor.

He was in a mood that craved amusement, and marvelling what madman might be this, he made his way below and bade them stand back and let me speak--for I, Madonna, was that lean young man.
"'Are you,' quoth I, 'the Lord of Pesaro ?' "He answered me courteously that he was, whereupon I did my errand to him.

I flung my gauntlet of buffalo-hide at his feet in gage of battle.
"'Your father,' said I, 'Costanzo of Pesaro, was a foul brigand, who robbed my father of his castle and lands of Biancomonte, leaving him to a needy and poverty-stricken old age.