Bab Bab 428 · How they were fed with the Sangreal while they were in

. How they were fed with the Sangreal while they were in

prison, and how Galahad was made king.

But as soon as they were there Our Lord sent them the Sangreal, through

whose grace they were always fulfilled while that they were in prison.

So at the year’s end it befell that this King Estorause lay sick, and

felt that he should die. Then he sent for the three knights, and they

came afore him; and he cried them mercy of that he had done to them,

and they forgave it him goodly; and he died anon. When the king was

dead all the city was dismayed, and wist not who might be their king.

Right so as they were in counsel there came a voice among them, and

bade them choose the youngest knight of them three to be their king:

For he shall well maintain you and all yours. So they made Galahad king

by all the assent of the holy city, and else they would have slain him.

And when he was come to behold the land, he let make above the table of

silver a chest of gold and of precious stones, that hilled the Holy

Vessel. And every day early the three fellows would come afore it, and

make their prayers.

Now at the year’s end, and the self day after Galahad had borne the

crown of gold, he arose up early and his fellows, and came to the

palace, and saw to-fore them the Holy Vessel, and a man kneeling on his

knees in likeness of a bishop, that had about him a great fellowship of

angels, as it had been Jesu Christ himself; and then he arose and began

a mass of Our Lady. And when he came to the sacrament of the mass, and

had done, anon he called Galahad, and said to him: Come forth the

servant of Jesu Christ, and thou shalt see that thou hast much desired

to see. And then he began to tremble right hard when the deadly flesh

began to behold the spiritual things. Then he held up his hands toward

heaven and said: Lord, I thank thee, for now I see that that hath been

my desire many a day. Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it

might please thee, Lord. And therewith the good man took Our Lord’s

body betwixt his hands, and proffered it to Galahad, and he received it

right gladly and meekly. Now wottest thou what I am? said the good man.

Nay, said Galahad. I am Joseph of Aramathie, the which Our Lord hath

sent here to thee to bear thee fellowship; and wottest thou wherefore

that he hath sent me more than any other? For thou hast resembled me in

two things; in that thou hast seen the marvels of the Sangreal, in that

thou hast been a clean maiden, as I have been and am.

And when he had said these words Galahad went to Percivale and kissed

him, and commended him to God; and so he went to Sir Bors and kissed

him, and commended him to God, and said: Fair lord, salute me to my

lord, Sir Launcelot, my father, and as soon as ye see him, bid him

remember of this unstable world. And therewith he kneeled down to-fore

the table and made his prayers, and then suddenly his soul departed to

Jesu Christ, and a great multitude of angels bare his soul up to

heaven, that the two fellows might well behold it. Also the two fellows

saw come from heaven an hand, but they saw not the body. And then it

came right to the Vessel, and took it and the spear, and so bare it up

to heaven. Sithen was there never man so hardy to say that he had seen

the Sangreal.