Of Perceval the story is here silent, and saith that King Arthur and
Messire Gawain have taken leave of Perceval and all them of the castle.
The King leaveth him the good destrier that he won, with the golden
crown. They have ridden, he and Messire Gawain together, until they
are come to a waste ancient castle that stood in a forest. The castle
would have been right fair and rich had any folk wonned therein, but
none there were save one old priest and his clerk that lived within by
their own toil. The King and Messire Gawain lodged there the night, and
on the morrow went into a right rich chapel that was therein to hear
mass, and it was painted all around of right rich colours of gold and
azure and other colours. The images were right fair that were there
painted, and the Figures of them for whom the images were made. The
King and Messire Gawain looked at them gladly. When the mass was said,
the priest cometh to them and saith: "Lords," saith he, "These imagings
are right fair, and he that had them made is full loyal, and dearly
loved the lady and her son for whom he had them made. Sir," saith the
priest, "It is a true history."
"Of whom is the history, fair Sir?" saith King Arthur.
"Of a worshipful vavasour that owned this hold, and of Messire Gawain,
King Arthur's nephew, and his mother. Sir," saith the priest, "Messire
Gawain was born there within and held up and baptized, as you may see
here imaged, and he was named Gawain for the sake of the lord of this
castle that had that name. His mother, that had him by King Lot, would
not that it should be known. She set him in a right fair coffer, and
prayed the good man of this castle that he would carry him away and
leave him where he might perish, but and if he would not do so, she
would make another do it. This Gawain, that was loyal and would not
that the child should be put to death, made seal letters at the
pillow-bere of his cradle that he was of lineage royal on the one side
and the other, and set therein gold and silver so as that the child
might be nurtured in great plenty, and spread above the child a right
rich coverlid. He carried him away to a far distant country, and so
came one early morning to a little homestead where dwelt a right
worshipful man. He delivered the child to him and his wife, and bade
them they should keep him and nurture him well, and told them that it
might be much good should come to them thereof. The vavasour turned
him back, and they took charge of the child and nurtured him until that
he were grown, and then took him to Rome to the Holy Father, and showed
him the sealed letters. The Holy Father saw them and understood that
he was the son of a King. He had pity upon him, and gave him to
understand that he was of his kindred. After that, he was elected to
be Emperor of Rome. But he would not be Emperor lest he should be
reproached of his birth that had before been concealed from him. He
departed thence, and lived afterwards within yonder. Now is it said
that he is one of the best knights in the world, insomuch that none
durst take possession of this castle for dread of him, nor of this
great forest that lieth round about it. For, when the vavasour that
dwelt here was dead, he left to Messire Gawain, his foster-son, this
castle, and made me guardian thereof until such time as Messire Gawain
should return."