Perceval (Arthurian knight)

Sir Perceval of Galles

• attestation: The protagonist's true name is Percyvell, and he was raised in the wilderness (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 1)

  "His righte name was Percyvell, He was fosterde in the felle,"

• attestation: Perceval's father was a noble man who won great honor when made knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 1)

  "His fadir was a noble man: Fro )e tyme, jDat he began, Miche wirchippe he wan, When he was made knyghte:"

• attestation: Perceval the Elder was the most beloved knight in King Arthur's hall (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 1)

  "In kyng Arthures haiille Beste bylufFede of alle:"

• attribution: Perceval the Elder was a mighty warrior on horseback skilled with weapons (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 1)

  "He was doughty of dede, A styffe body on a stede, Wapynes to wolde;"

• attestation: A great wedding celebration was held for Perceval the Elder and Acheflour (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 1)

  "A grete brydale J)ay made For hir sake, Jiat hy»i hade Chosen to hir make;"

• attestation: At the jousting, Perceval the Elder broke sixty lances in a single day (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 1)

  "Sexty schaftes, I say, Sir Percyvell brake {)at ilke day,"

• attestation: Perceval the Elder had a son by his young wife, named after himself (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 2)

  "Till Percyvell bad in his lyffe A son by his jonge wyfif,"

• attestation: The child was named after his father, as was the custom (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 2)

  "He made calle it one pe morne, Als his fadir highte by-forne:"

• attestation: A second jousting was arranged after the birth of Perceval's son (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 2)

  "Now of justyngez J)ay tell: Pay sayne, {)at sir Percy veil, Pat he will in pe felde duelle,"

• attestation: Perceval the Elder was slain by the Red Knight at the second jousting (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 2)

  "For J)er was sir Percyvell slayne And )e rede knyghte fayne,"

• attestation: Perceval the Elder defeated many opponents before encountering the Red Knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 2)

  "Percyvell hase borne downn Knyght, duke, erle and baroun, And vencusede the play."

• attestation: Young Perceval grew strong and skilled at hunting with his dart, slaying harts and hinds (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "He wolde schote with his spere"

• attestation: Perceval grew up in the wilderness for fifteen years and more (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "Fyftene wynter and mare"

• attribution: Young Perceval became an excellent marksman from whom no beast could escape (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 3)

  "So wele he lernede hy»/ to schote,"

• attestation: Perceval was so naive he did not know what God was and asked his mother to explain (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 4)

  ""Whatkyns a godd may )at be,"

• attestation: Perceval left his mother and goats to seek God in the woods (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 4)

  "There he levede in a tayte Bothe his modir cmd his gayte, The grete godd for to layte,"

• relationship: The three knights were all Perceval's kinsmen (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 4)

  "And all were of his kyn."

• attestation: Perceval was dressed only in skins and had never seen armored knights before, thinking them gods (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 4)

  "The childe hadd no thyng ^at tyde, Pat he myjte in his bones hyde,"

• attestation: Perceval asks if King Arthur will make him a knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 5)

  ""Will kyng Arthoure make me knyghte,"

• attestation: Perceval caught a wild mare from an untamed herd to ride to court (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 5)

  "He sawe a fall faire stode OflPe coltes and of meres glide, Bot never one was tame;"

• attestation: Perceval told his mother he had met three knights and promised to go before their king (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 5)

  ""fare hafe I thre kn,yghtes sene, "And I hafe spoken with {)am, I wene,"

• attestation: Perceval had no bridle for his mare, so he used a withe of twisted branches (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "Brydill base he righte nane; Seese he no better wane, Bot a wythe base he tane And kevylles his stede."

• attestation: Perceval departed from his mother on the wild mare carrying the ring and the Scots spear (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "He tase )e rynge and {)e spere, Stirttes up appon J)e mere,"

• attestation: Perceval entered a hall where he found a table set, a fire, and a manger with corn for his mare (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "He went in wttA-owtten lett, He fande a brade horde sett, A bryghte fire, wele bett,"

• attestation: Following his mother's teaching about moderation, Perceval divided the corn and food in half (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "'Halfe, )at I here see, "Styll sail it ly." The corne he pertis in two, Gaffe his mere )e tone of {)oo."

• attestation: Perceval's departure was on the morning after Christmas night (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 6)

  "All )at nyjte, till it was day, The childo by J)e modir lay, Till on J)e morne he wolde away"

• attestation: Perceval found bread, wine, a kitchen dish and a knife at the table (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 7)

  "He fande a lofe of brede fyne And a pychere wit/i wyne, A mese of the kechyne, A knyfe Jber be-syde."

• attestation: Perceval divided the food evenly, keeping half and leaving half for another (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 7)

  "The mete )er, )at he fande, He dalte it even with his hande, Lefte )e halfe lyggande, A felawe to byde;"

• attestation: In the adjacent chamber, Perceval kissed a sleeping lady and took a ring from her finger (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 7)

  "Per he kyste j)at swete thynge, Of hir fynger he tuke a rynge,"

• attestation: Perceval rode to Arthur's court desiring to become a knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 7)

  "A knyghte wolde he nedis bee Wit/j-owtten any bade."

• attestation: Perceval rode his mare so close to Arthur that it nearly trampled the king (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 7)

  "His mere wit/i-owtten faylynge So nerehande he rade."

• attestation: Young Perceval did not know his father had been killed and was impatient with Arthur's speech (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 8)

  "The childe thoghte, he longe bade, Pat he ne ware a knyghte made, For he wiste never, )at he hade A fader to be slayne;"

• attestation: Perceval threatened to slay King Arthur if he would not knight him (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 9)

  "Als I am trewe kyng', said he, 'A knyghte sail I make the,"

• attestation: Perceval rode after the Red Knight wearing only goatskins, carrying just his dart (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 9)

  "Noiu" opjer-gatps was lie dighte, Hot in thro gayt-skynnes righto,"

• attestation: Perceval killed the Red Knight with a dart shot through the eye and out the neck (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 10)

  "At J)e knyghte lete he flee, Smote hym in at ^eee And oute at f)e nakke."

• attestation: Perceval spoke to the dead knight as if alive, not understanding death (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 10)

  ""And J)ou woldeste me here byde, "After Id! mere scholde I ryde "And brynge hir agayne."

• attestation: The Red Knight's steed ran free and Perceval tried to catch it but his mare was too slow (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 10)

  "Pe stede was swifter J)an pe mere, For he hade no thynge to here Bot his sadili and his gere,"

• attestation: Perceval could not find the lacings to remove the Red Knight's armor (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 10)

  "To nnspoyle {)e rede knyghte, Bot he ne couthe never fynd righte I The lacynge of his wede;"

• attestation: Perceval brought the steed back to the dead knight and challenged him to fight again (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 10)

  ""I hafe broghte to the thi mere "And mekill of thyn oJ)er gere;"

• attribution: Perceval was a skilled marksman who shot the dart with deadly accuracy (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 10)

  "Of schottyng was pe child slee:"

• attestation: Perceval caught the Red Knight's steed by strength and brought it back to the dead body (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 10)

  "With strenght tuke he ]}e stede And broghte to Jse knyghte;"

• attestation: Perceval tried to remove the Red Knight's armor but could not find the lacings (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 11)

  "Wodde, a fyre to make. A grete fyre made he J)en, The rede knyghte in to bren. For he ne couthe nott ken,"

• attestation: Perceval remembered his mother's teaching about burning iron off broken darts (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 11)

  "He sayd: ''My moder bad me, ToO 'When my dart solde broken be, ''Owte of )e iren bren )e tree:"

• attestation: Perceval made a great fire intending to burn the armor off the Red Knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 11)

  "A grete fyre made he J)en, The rede knyghte in to bren. For he ne couthe nott ken, His gere off to take."

• attestation: Perceval cast the Red Knight's body into the fire telling him to roast (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 11)

  "He tase t)e knyghte bi J)e swire, Keste hyj» reghte in the fyre,"

• attestation: Perceval built a fire intending to burn the armor off the Red Knight's body (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 12)

  "Oppon his spere he hir bare To {)e fyre agayne; In ill wrethe and in grete"

• attestation: On the following morning Perceval met a witch who recognized the Red Knight's horse and equipment (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 12)

  "His horse mid his harnays Couthe scho wele ken."

• attestation: The witch believed Perceval was the Red Knight and said men had reported him slain (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 12)

  "Sayde: 'It is not to layne, 'Men tolde me, pat pou was slayne 'With Arthours men."

• attestation: Perceval killed the witch by bearing her on his spear and casting her into the fire (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 12)

  "Oppon his spere he hir bare To {)e fyre agayne; In ill wrethe and in grete He keste De wiche in )e hete;"

• attestation: Ten riders saw Perceval and fled thinking he was the Red Knight because of his armor (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 12)

  "When Jbose ten saw hym J)are, F*ay wende, {»e rede knyghte it ware,"

• attestation: A knight among the ten raised his visor and recognized Perceval was not the Red Knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 12)

  "He put up his umbrere on hight"

• attestation: The old knight thanked Perceval for slaying his greatest foe (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 13)

  "'Pon base slayne )e moste foo, Hi 'Pat ever jitt I hade.'"

• attestation: The old knight warmly hosted Perceval in his hall for the night (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 13)

  "He broghte J)e childe in to )e haulle, So faire he spake hywi with-alle, That he es doun Ij^ghte;"

• attestation: Perceval immediately volunteered to slay the Sultan and asked to be shown the way (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 14)

  ""Mighte I mete with J)at sowdan, "I'at so dose to pat woman, "Alsone he solde be slane,"

• attestation: The old knight offered his nine sons to accompany Perceval but he took only three (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 14)

  "Bot so faire spekes he, Pat he takes of )am three, In his felawchipe to be:"

• attestation: Perceval cunningly sent his three companions away and rode on alone (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 15)

  "For jie luffe of Percyvell To horse and armes ]^ay felle, I*ay wolde no lengare {)er duelle; To fare ware )ay fayne."

• attestation: Perceval had unknowingly met two of his uncles but neither recognized him (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 15)

  "Now hase Percyvell in throo Spoken yvith his ernes twoo, Bot never one of thoo Took his knawlage:"

• attestation: The messenger described a knight in bloody red armor on a red steed who had been in battle (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 15)

  ""His body \n)]dv and borely, "His arm. .JO- bryghte and blody, "Hade bene lato in batell;"

• attestation: The messenger regretted not having turned back with the young knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 15)

  ""Why ne hade I tournede and gone "A-gayne with the knyghte?""

• attestation: The young knight identified himself only as 'his dame's son' when asked his name (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 15)

  ""His dame sojme, he said, he bight;"

• attestation: The messenger from Maidenland regretted not turning back to travel with the young knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 15)

  ""Why ne hade I tournede and gone "A-gayne with the knyghte?""

• attestation: Perceval arrived at Maidenland and saw many pavilions encamped around a besieged city (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 16)

  "Pavelouws mekill and unryde Aboute a cyte stande; On huntyng was J)e sowdane,"

• attestation: Perceval boldly declared he had come to see and slay the Sultan (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 16)

  "He said: ^I ame hedir gane, 'For to see a sowdane; 'In faythe, righte sone he sail be slane,"

• attestation: Perceval rode over the man who tried to seize his bridle and fought through the camp all night (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 16)

  "Even over hym he rade"

• attestation: Perceval struck Saracen heads like hailstones bouncing on grass (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 16)

  "Made pe Sarazenes hede-bones Hoppe, als dose hayle-stones, A-bowtte one pe gres;"

• attestation: After the battle, Perceval was so weary he cared not whether he lived or died (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 17)

  "He was so wery by then, I tell jow for certen, He roghte wele Jdc lesse Aw{)er of lyfe or of dede,"

• attestation: Perceval slept under the castle wall with his steed beside him (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 17)

  "He laide hym doun hi fjat tyde, His stede stode hym be-syde;"

• attestation: Perceval told Lufamour he had come specifically to slay the Sultan (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 18)

  "He ?ayd: 'I soghte none of tho; 'I come the sowdane to slo,"

• attestation: Perceval was served at the high table and seated on the dais in a chair of gold (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 18)

  "The childe was sett on )e dese And served with reches,"

• attestation: Perceval undertook to slay the Sultan for the sake of Lufamour's beauty and kindness (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 18)

  "I*at for hir sake righte tha Sone he gane undir-ta, The sory sowdaue to sla"

• attestation: Perceval had barely begun dining when word came of the Sultan's army approaching (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 18)

  "He ne hade dyned hot smalle."

• attestation: Perceval rode out alone from the castle, sparing no man in his attack (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 19)

  "Thi're were none with hym to fare, For no man J)en wolde he spare,"

• attestation: Perceval slew all his enemies on the field, leaving not one alive (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 19)

  "I wote, he sped hym so sone, One life lefte noghte ane."

• attestation: Perceval boasted he had slain twenty score men and considered it merely play (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 20)

  ""I hafe slayne, and I )e ken, "Twenty score of thi men, "And of alle, {)at I slewe then, "Me thoghte it hot a playe"

• attestation: Perceval and Gawain ceased their fight and embraced as kinsmen (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 21)

  "And J)an )ay sessen of )aire fighte, Ala gude frendes scholde."

• attestation: Perceval demanded Arthur fulfill his promise and knight him (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 22)

  ""gif I be noghte jitt knyghte, "Pou sail halde J)at J)ou highte, "For to make me ane!""

• attestation: Perceval was given the name Sir Percevell the Galayse upon his knighting (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 23)

  "Sir Percevell the Galayse Pay called hym in kythe."

• attestation: Perceval unhorsed the Sultan Golrotherame in their joust (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 23)

  "Percevell here hym fro his stede Two londis one brede With maystry and myghte."

• attestation: Gawain taught Perceval that the animal he rode was a steed, not a mare (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 23)

  ""Lorde! whethir this be a stede? "I wende, had bene a mere.""

• attestation: Perceval considered burning the Sultan as he had done to the Red Knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 23)

  ""Hade I a fire now in this filde, "Righte here he solde be brende!""

• attestation: Perceval struck the Sultan on the neck-bone through visor and neck-guard, beheading him (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 24)

  "He hitt hym even one f)e nekk-bane; Thurgh ventale and pesane The hede of the sowdane He strykes the body fra."

• attestation: Perceval was acclaimed the most worthy to be king after slaying the Sultan (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 24)

  "Was beste worthy to be kyng, For wele wit/t-owtten lesyng"

• attestation: Perceval married Lady Lufamour on the next day after the Sultan's defeat (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 24)

  "Bot sythen appon {)at oJ)er day He weddys Lufamo?(r )e may,"

• attestation: Perceval became king of all the broad land through his marriage and victory (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 24)

  "Now hase Percevell {)e wight Wedded Lufamowr f)e bright And is a kyng full righte Of alle J)at lande brade."

• attestation: Perceval dwelt with Lufamour for a full year and forgot about his mother (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 24)

  "Thus he wonnes in J)at wane, Till that the twelmonthe was gane, With Lufamoz«r, his lemman, He thoghte on no thyng;"

• attestation: Perceval left his wife Lufamour and rode out alone to seek his mother (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 25)

  "Tuke his lefe at Iiani alio, Bothl at grete ami at snialle, Fro thaym wendis he."

• attestation: Perceval heard a woman crying in the woods and found a beautiful lady bound to a tree (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 25)

  "A birde, brighteste of ble, Stode faste bonden till a tre, Bothe fote and hande."

• attestation: The lady revealed that a knight had exchanged a ring with her while she slept on Christmas day a year ago (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 25)

  "'Were he knyghte, were he kyng, 'He come one his playnge, 'With me he chaungede a ryng,"

• attestation: Perceval realized from the lady's tale that he was the one who had unknowingly taken her ring (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 25)

  "And then wiste sir Perce vale Full wele by the ladyB tale, Pat he had broghte hir in bale"

• attestation: Perceval freed the bound lady from the tree, keeping his word as king and knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 26)

  "He was bothe kyng and knyght, Wele he helde, )at he highte, He loused the lady so brighte,"

• attestation: Perceval jousted with the Black Knight and bore him down from his horse (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 26)

  "Than sir Percevell J)e wight Bare down J)e blake knyght;"

• attestation: The lady intervened to prevent Perceval from killing the Black Knight, crying for mercy (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 26)

  "Ay went J)e lady by-twene And cryed: 'Mercy!'"

• attestation: Perceval confessed that he had taken the ring while the lady slept and offered to exchange it back (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 26)

  ""I did hir never no velany, "Bot slepande I saw hir ly, ''I will it never layne; ''I tok a ryng, I^at I fande,"

• attestation: Perceval demanded the Black Knight direct him to the giant's palace to recover the ring (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 27)

  ""And pf it may no r)o])er be, "Righte sone )ari tell J)ou me "The sothe, whilke jDat es he,"

• attestation: The Black Knight named Perceval as Sir Percevell de Galays and directed him to the high palace (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 27)

  "'If I)ou dare do, als l>o\i says, 'Sir Percevell de Galays, 'In jone heghe palays, 'Therin soldo he be."

• attestation: The giant stood in his stronghold and saw Perceval riding boldly across his land (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 27)

  "The geant stode in his holde, That had those londis in wolde, Saw Percevell, )at was bolde,"

• attestation: The giant took an iron club to fight Perceval, saying he would be better off in Rome (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 27)

  "Go, reche me my playlome, 'And I sail go to hym sone; 'Hym were better hafe bene at Rome,"

• attestation: The giant who held the ring was the brother of the slain Sultan Golrotherame (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 27)

  "'If I)ou dare do, als l>o\i says, 'Sir Percevell de Galays, 'In jone heghe palays, 'Therin soldo he be."

• attestation: Perceval angrily demanded the Black Knight tell him where to find the giant who held his ring (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 27)

  "He Avex all tene, He said: "Heghe on galous raote he hyng, "Pat to J»e here giffes any ryng,"

• attestation: The giant called for his iron war-club as his weapon against the approaching knight (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 27)

  "Ane iryn clobe takes he; Agayne Percevell the fre He went than full right."

• attestation: Perceval declared he would slay the giant and all such giants through God's grace (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 28)

  ""Thurgh grace of god so sail I the "And siche geantez as je, "Sle thayra in the felde.""

• attestation: The giant's club-blow missed and stuck in the earth up to the mid-shaft (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 28)

  "The clobe in )e erthe stode: To )e midschafte it wode;"

• attestation: Perceval drew his sword and struck off the giant's hand and left foot (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 28)

  "His honde he strykes hym fro, His lefte fote also;"

• attestation: The giant punched Perceval in the neck with his fist, and Perceval struck off both remaining hands (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 28)

  "He strikes off )e hande als clene, Als Iter hadde never none bene:"

• attestation: Perceval beheaded the giant, mocking him as an unkind barber (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 28)

  "Sythen his hede gan he off hafe; He was ane unhende knave, A geantberde so to schafe,"

• attestation: Perceval left the giant's body where it lay and rode on to the stronghold (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 28)

  "He lete hym ly, there he lay, And rydis forthe one his way"

• attestation: The valleys resounded with the noise of their fierce combat as they struck each other (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 28)

  "Tho dales dynned thaym by-twene For dynttis, I)at )ay gaffe by-dene,"

• attestation: The porter surrendered the keys to Perceval after seeing the giant slain (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 29)

  "The portare saw his lorde slayne; fe kayes dunste he noght layne: He come Percevell agayne, fe ^atis he hym ^olde."

• attestation: Perceval found his mother's ring among the giant's gold treasure (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 29)

  "Avd flcliott owtt all J>e golde llightc tliere appon {)e faire molde; The ryng owte glade."

• attestation: Perceval declared he would go on foot to find his mother, as she had borne him in her womb (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 29)

  ""One my fete will I ga, "f*at faire lady to ta; "Me aughte to bring hir of wa:"

• attestation: Perceval stripped off his armor and put on a goatskin to return to the woods where his mother raised him (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 30)

  "His armoMr he leved J>er-in, Toke one hym a gayt-skynne, And to pe wodde gan he wyn"

• attestation: Perceval searched the wilderness for seven days without eating or drinking (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 30)

  "A sevenyght long hase he soghte, His modir ne fyndis he noghte. Of mete ne drynke he ne roghte:"

• attestation: On the ninth day Perceval found the well where he had lived as a boy (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 30)

  "Till pe nynte day by-fell, I*at he come to a welle, Per be was wonte for to duelle"

• attestation: Perceval carried his mad mother on his back to the giant's castle (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 30)

  "And up he toke his modir thare, One his bake he hir bare :"

• attestation: The three of them knelt and thanked God for Acheflour's recovery (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 31)

  "Thay sett )am down one J)aire kne, Thanked godde alle three."

• attestation: Perceval took his mother home to his wife, where lords and the queen welcomed them (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 31)

  "And home went hee. Grete lordes and the qwene Welcomed hym al bydene; t*an blythe myghte )ay bee. Sythen he went into )e holy londe,"

• attestation: Perceval later went to the Holy Land, won many strong cities, and was slain there (Sir Perceval of Gales > Section 31)

  "Sythen he went into )e holy londe, Wan we many cites full stronge, And there was he slayne, I undirstonde;"