Josephus telleth us that as at this time was there no bell neither in
Greater Britain nor in Lesser; but folk were called together by a horn,
and in many places there were sheets of steel, and in other places
clappers of wood. King Arthur marvelled him much of this sound, so
clear and sweet was it, and it well seemed him that it came on God's
behalf, and right fain was he to see a bell and so he might. They were
the night until the morrow in the house, as I tell you. The damsel
took leave of them and so departed. As they came forth of the hold,
they met three hermits that told them they were going to search for the
bodies that were in this manor so that they might bury them in a waste
chapel that was hard by, for such knights had lain there as that
henceforward the haunting of the evil folk would be stayed in such sort
as that they would have no more power to do hurt to any, wherefore they
would set therewithin a worshipful hermit that should build up the
place in holiness for the service of God. The King was right joyful
thereof, and told them that it had been too perilous. They parted from
the hermits and entered into a forest, nor was there never a day so
long as King Arthur was on pilgrimage, so saith the history, but he
heard the sound of one single bell every hour, whereof he was right
glad. He bade Messire Gawain and Lancelot that they should everywhere
conceal his name, and that they should call him not Lord but Comrade.
They yielded him his will, and prayed to Our Lord that he would guide
and lead them to such a castle and such a hostel as that they might be
lodged honourably therein. They rode on until evening drew nigh, and
they found a right fair hold in the forest, whereinto they entered and
alighted. The damsel of the hold came to meet them and made them right
great cheer, then made them be disarmed, afterward bringeth them right
rich robes to wear. She looketh at Lancelot and knoweth him again.