When the hermits came nigh the castle, the King went to meet them, and
the knights adore the crosses and bow their heads before the good men.
As soon as they were come into the holy chapel, they took the bell from
the last and smote thereon at the altar, and then set it on the ground,
and then began they the service, most holy and most glorious. The
history witnesseth us that in the land of King Arthur at this time was
there not a single chalice. The Graal appeared at the sacring of the
mass, in five several manners that none ought not to tell, for the
secret things of the sacrament ought none to tell openly but he unto
whom God hath given it. King Arthur beheld all the changes, the last
whereof was the change into a chalice. And the hermit that chanted the
mass found a brief under the corporal and declared the letters, to wit,
that our Lord God would that in such vessel should His body be
sacrificed, and that it should be set upon record. The history saith
not that there were no chalices elsewhere, but that in all Great
Britain and in the whole kingdom was none. King Arthur was right glad
of this that he had seen, and had in remembrance the name and the
fashion of the most holy chalice. Then he asked the hermit that bare
the bell, whence this thing came?
"Sir," saith he to Messire Gawain, "I am the King for whom you slew the
giant, whereby you had the sword wherewith St John was beheaded, that I
see on this altar. I made baptize me before you and all those of my
kingdom, and turn to the New Law, and thereafter I went to a hermitage
by the sea, far from folk, where I have been of a long space. I rose
one night at matins and looked under my hermitage and saw that a ship
had taken haven there. I went thither when the sea was retreated, and
found within the ship three priests and their clerks, that told me
their names and how they were called in baptism. All three were named
Gregory, and they came from the Land of Promise, and told me that
Solomon had cast three bells, one for the Saviour of the World, and one
for His sweet Mother, and one for the honour of His saints, wherefore
they had brought this hither by His commandment into this kingdom for
that we had none here. They told me that and I should bear it into
this castle, they would take all my sins upon themselves, by Our Lord's
pleasure, in such sort as that I should be quit thereof. And I in like
manner have brought it hither by the commandment of God, who willeth
that this should be the pattern of all those that shall be fashioned in
the realm of this island where never aforetime have been none."
"By my faith," saith Messire Gawain to the hermit, "I know you right
well for a worshipful man, for you held your covenant truly with me."
King Arthur was right glad of this thing, as were all they that were
within. It seemed him that the noise thereof was like the noise that
he had heard sound ever since he had moved from Cardoil. The hermits
went their way each to his hermitage when they had done the service.