The High Book of the Graal beginneth in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost. These three Persons are one substance,
which is God, and of God moveth the High Story of the Graal. And all
they that hear it ought to understand it, and to forget all the
wickednesses that they have in their hearts. For right profitable shall
it be to all them that shall hear it of the heart. For the sake of the
worshipful men and good knights of whose deeds shall remembrance be
made, doth Josephus recount this holy history, for the sake of the
lineage of the Good Knight that was after the crucifixion of Our Lord.
Good Knight was he without fail, for he was chaste and virgin of his
body and hardy of heart and puissant, and so were his conditions
without wickedness. Not boastful was he of speech, and it seemed not
by his cheer that he had so great courage; Natheless, of one little
word that he delayed to speak came to pass so sore mischances in
Greater Britain, that all the islands and all the lands fell thereby
into much sorrow, albeit thereafter he put them back into gladness by
the authority of his good knighthood. Good knight was he of right, for
he was of the lineage of Joseph of Abarimacie. And this Joseph was his
mother's uncle, that had been a soldier of Pilate's seven years, nor
asked he of him none other guerdon of his service but only to take down
the body of Our Saviour from hanging on the cross. The boon him seemed
full great when it was granted him, and full little to Pilate seemed
the guerdon; for right well had Joseph served him, and had he asked to
have gold or land thereof, willingly would he have given it to him.
And for this did Pilate make him a gift of the Saviour's body, for he
supposed that Joseph should have dragged the same shamefully through
the city of Jerusalem when it had been taken down from the cross, and
should have left it without the city in some mean place. But the Good
Soldier had no mind thereto, but rather honoured the body the most he
might, rather laid it along in the Holy Sepulchre and kept safe the
lance whereof He was smitten in the side and the most Holy Vessel
wherein they that believed on Him received with awe the blood that ran
down from His wounds when He was set upon the rood. Of this lineage
was the Good Knight for whose sake is this High History treated.
Yglais was his mother's name: King Fisherman was his uncle, and the
King of the Lower Folk that was named Pelles, and the King that was
named of the Castle Mortal, in whom was there as much bad as there was
good in the other twain, and much good was there in them; and these
three were his uncles on the side of his mother Yglais, that was a
right good Lady and a loyal; and the Good Knight had one sister, that
hight Dindrane. He that was head of the lineage on his father's side
was named Nichodemus. Gais li Gros of the Hermit's Cross was father of
Alain li Gros. This Alain had eleven brethren, right good knights,
like as he was himself. And none of them all lived in his knighthood
but twelve years, and they all died in arms for their great hardiment
in setting forward of the Law that was made new. There were twelve
brethren. Alain li Gros was the eldest; Gorgalians was next; Bruns
Brandnils was the third; Bertholez li Chauz the fourth; Brandalus of
Wales was the fifth; Elinant of Escavalon was the sixth; Calobrutus was
the seventh; Meralis of the Palace Meadow was the eighth; Fortunes of
the Red Launde was ninth; Melaarmaus of Abanie was the tenth; Galians
of the White Tower the eleventh; Alibans of the Waste City was the
twelfth. All these died in arms in the service of the Holy Prophet that
had renewed the Law by His death, and smote His enemies to the
uttermost of their power. Of these two manner of folk, whose names and
records you have heard, Josephus the good clerk telleth us was come the
Good Knight of whom you shall well hear the name and the manner
presently.