ed God,
until that his mother passed away and his sister and all they that were
therein save he alone. The hermits that were nigh the castle buried
them and sang their masses, and came every day and took counsel of him
for the holiness they saw him do and the good life that he led there.
So one day whilst he was in the holy chapel where the hallows were,
forthwith, behold you, a Voice that cometh down therein: "Perceval,"
saith the Voice, "Not long shall you abide herein; wherefore it is
God's will that you dispart the hallows amongst the hermits of the
forest, there where these bodies shall be served and worshipped, and
the most Holy Graal shall appear herein no more, but within a brief
space shall you know well the place where it shall be."

When the Voice departed, all the coffins that were therein crashed so
passing loud that it seemed the master-hall had fallen. He crosseth
and blesseth him and commendeth him to God. On a day the hermits came
to him. He disparted the holy relics among them, and they builded
above them holy churches and houses of religion that are seen in the
lands and in the islands. Joseus the son of King Hermit, remained
therein with Perceval, for he well knew that he would be departing
thence betimes.

XXVII.

Perceval heard one day a bell sound loud and high without the manor
toward the sea. He came to the windows of the hall and saw the ship
come with the white sail and the Red Cross thereon, and within were the
fairest folk that ever he might behold, and they were all robed in such
manner as though they should sing mass. When the ship was anchored
under the hall they went to pray in the most holy chapel. They brought
the richest vessels of gold and silver that any might ever see, like as
it were coffins, and set therein one of the three bodies of knights
that had been brought into the chapel, and the body of King Fisherman,
and of the mother of Perceval. But no savour in the world smelleth so
sweet. Perceval took leave of Joseus and commended him to the Saviour
of the World, and took leave of the household, from whom he departed in
like manner. The worshipful men that were in the ship signed them of
the cross and blessed them likewise. The ship wherein Perceval was
drew far away, and a Voice that issued from the manor as she departed
commended them to God and to His sweet Mother. Josephus recordeth us
that Perceval departed in such wise, nor never thereafter did no
earthly man