of the Widow Lady that was Perceval's mother, the most loyal
that was ever in Great Britain. All these lineages were in the service
of Our Lord from the beginning of their lives unto the end, save only
this evil King that perished so evilly as you have heard.

XXXIV.

You have heard how the King that had seized the castle that had been
King Fisherman's slew himself in such wise, and how his knights were
discomfited. Perceval entered into the castle and the worshipful
hermits together with him. It seemed them when they were come within
into the master hall, that they heard chant in an inner chapel 'Gloria
in excelsis Deo', and right sweet praising of Our Lord. They found the
hails right rich and seemly and fairly adorned within. They found the
chapel open where the sacred hallows were wont to be. The holy hermits
entered therein and made their orisons, and prayed the Saviour of the
World that He would swiftly restore to them the most Holy Graal and the
sacred hallows that wont to be therewithin whereby they might be
comforted.

XXXV.

The good men were there within with Perceval, that much loved their
company. Josephus witnesseth us that the ancient knights that were of
the household of King Fisherman, and the priests and damsels, departed
so soon as the King that slew himself had seized the castle, for that
they would not be at his court, and the Lord God preserved them from
him and made them go into such a place as that they should be in
safety. The Saviour of the World well knew that the Good Knight had
won the castle by his valour that should have been his own of right,
and sent back thither all them that had served King Fisherman.
Perceval made right great joy of them when he saw them, and they of
him. They seemed well to be a folk that had come from some place where
God and His commandments were honoured, and so indeed had they.

XXXVI.

The High History witnesseth us that when the conquest of the castle was
over, the Saviour of the World was right joyous and well pleased
thereof. The Graal presented itself again in the chapel, and the lance
whereof the point bleedeth, and the sword wherewith St John was
beheaded that Messire Gawain won, and the other holy relics whereof was
right great plenty. For our Lord God loved the place much. The
hermits went back to their hermitages in the forest and served Our Lord
as they had been wont. Joseus remained with Perceval at the castle as
long as it