Kabanata Kabanata 363 · How Galahad departed with the shield, and how King Evelake

. How Galahad departed with the shield, and how King Evelake

had received the shield of Joseph of Aramathie.

Sir Galahad, said the squire, that knight that wounded Bagdemagus

sendeth you greeting, and bade that ye should bear this shield,

wherethrough great adventures should befall. Now blessed be God and

fortune, said Galahad. And then he asked his arms, and mounted upon his

horse, and hung the white shield about his neck, and commended them

unto God. And Sir Uwaine said he would bear him fellowship if it

pleased him. Sir, said Galahad, that may ye not, for I must go alone,

save this squire shall bear me fellowship: and so departed Uwaine.

Then within a while came Galahad thereas the White Knight abode him by

the hermitage, and everych saluted other courteously. Sir, said

Galahad, by this shield be many marvels fallen. Sir, said the knight,

it befell after the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ thirty-two year,

that Joseph of Aramathie, the gentle knight, the which took down our

Lord off the holy Cross, at that time he departed from Jerusalem with a

great party of his kindred with him. And so he laboured till that they

came to a city that hight Sarras. And at that same hour that Joseph

came to Sarras there was a king that hight Evelake, that had great war

against the Saracens, and in especial against one Saracen, the which

was King Evelake’s cousin, a rich king and a mighty, which marched nigh

this land, and his name was called Tolleme la Feintes. So on a day

these two met to do battle. Then Joseph, the son of Joseph of

Aramathie, went to King Evelake and told him he should be discomfit and

slain, but if he left his belief of the old law and believed upon the

new law. And then there he shewed him the right belief of the Holy

Trinity, to the which he agreed unto with all his heart; and there this

shield was made for King Evelake, in the name of Him that died upon the

Cross. And then through his good belief he had the better of King

Tolleme. For when Evelake was in the battle there was a cloth set afore

the shield, and when he was in the greatest peril he let put away the

cloth, and then his enemies saw a figure of a man on the Cross,

wherethrough they all were discomfit. And so it befell that a man of

King Evelake’s was smitten his hand off, and bare that hand in his

other hand; and Joseph called that man unto him and bade him go with

good devotion touch the Cross. And as soon as that man had touched the

Cross with his hand it was as whole as ever it was to-fore. Then soon

after there fell a great marvel, that the cross of the shield at one

time vanished away that no man wist where it became. And then King

Evelake was baptised, and for the most part all the people of that

city. So, soon after Joseph would depart, and King Evelake would go

with him, whether he wold or nold. And so by fortune they came into

this land, that at that time was called Great Britain; and there they

found a great felon paynim, that put Joseph into prison. And so by

fortune tidings came unto a worthy man that hight Mondrames, and he

assembled all his people for the great renown he had heard of Joseph;

and so he came into the land of Great Britain and disherited this felon

paynim and consumed him, and therewith delivered Joseph out of prison.

And after that all the people were turned to the Christian faith.