Le Morte d’Arthur: Book 17 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 1 We return to Galahad, who, after many adventures, passes by a castle where a tournament is taking place. Galahad does many great deeds there. Gawaine and Ector de Maris are also present, and they recognize Galahad’s shield. Galahad strikes Gawaine down, and his horse’s shoulder is cleaved in two. Gawaine says to Ector that he’s never received such a beating: now his quest is done.

Galahad rides on to the Castle of Carboneck, where he stays in a hermitage. A damsel knocks on his chamber and asks him to accompany her to the greatest adventure he’s ever seen.

Chapter 2 Galahad rides with the damsel to the sea and a castle called Collibe, where the damsel’s lady lives. This lady takes Galahad to the seaside, where they find the ship holding Sir Bors and Percivale. They all recognize each other and embrace, sharing their adventures. The ship goes from Logris (England) to a place between two great rocks, but it’s too dangerous to land. Another ship is nearby, so they approach, but it’s empty. Letters at the end of the ship, however, declare that the ship is Faith, and anyone who enters without belief will fail. Then the lady declares that she is Percivale’s sister, and she warns Percivale not to enter if he lacks faith, since she loves him more than anyone.

Chapter 3 Galahad, the lady, Sir Bors, and Percivale enter the ship. They find a bed with a crown of silk and a beautiful sword on it. Percivale tries to grip the sword, but both he and Bors fail. There are letters on the sword that look like blood, which that whomever draws this sword will never fall to shame or be wounded to death. Galahad is too prudent to try. The lady tells them that there was once a was war between King Labor and the Saracen Hurlame, who later became a Christian. Hurlame struck Labor down with this sword, an event that created great drought and misery for both realms. Hurlame had put the sword back into its sheath on his ship and then fell down dead: since then no one has drawn the sword without being wounded or killed.

Chapter 4 Written on the sword’s scabbard is that the wearer will never be shamed while wearing the girdle (belt for the sword): the only person who can get rid of the sword is a king’s daughter, a virgin, who will die a horrible death if she ever loses her virginity. It also reads that whoever praises the sword most will find most to blame in it. Percivale’s sister shares that Nacien, brother-in-law to King Mordrains, had found this ship 40 years after Christ’s death. He failed to draw the sword, but when a great giant came to kill him, he ran to the sword, praised it, and was able to draw it—but then the sword broke in the middle of the battle. Nacien then jumped out of the ship to fight and he killed the giant. He later came to Mordrains’ ship and told him how the sword failed him at his time of greatest need. Mordrains said he must have some sin for this to happen, and then they heard a voice telling them to leave this ship for the other. As they did so, Nacien felt himself slashed by a sword in the right foot, and a voice told him this was his punishment for drawing that sword unworthily.

Chapter 5 The lady (Percivale’s sister) says that King Pelles also came upon this ship and drew the sword, and was instantly wounded through the thigh. The knights then behold two white spindles (rods used for spinning wool), and one red spindle, and one green. The lady says that the colors stand for the Genesis story of the Bible: Eve plucked the apple (red), turning its tree from white to green when she sinned with Adam. This tree endured until the time of King Solomon, who had an evil wife, but who heard a voice saying that a man, the last of his blood, would come bring him joy as a virtuous knight.

Chapter 6 Solomon’s wife made him a ship and told him to take it to the temple and to take King David’s sword. When the ship was ready to sail, the wife made a marvelous bed and put the sword at its foot. She ordered a carpenter to carve spindles for the sword out of Adam and Eve’s tree, which he did after protesting. Drops of blood came out of it as he did so, and then the wife fastened the spindles onto the bed.

Chapter 7 That night a group of angels visited Solomon and baptized the ship with holy water. Then Solomon heard a voice saying that only those with the highest faith and belief should occupy the ship, including the last knight of Solomon’s lineage. Solomon himself was abashed, and left the ship.

Percivale’s sister says she will make a new girdle for the sword, and she takes from a box a golden girdle made partly out of her own hair. She sets it on the sword. Then they all tell Galahad that the sword belongs to him. He grasps the sword, and tells the lady that he’ll pledge allegiance to her forever. They then leave the ship and come to Scotland. The lady says that if the inhabitants learn that the knights are from Arthur’s court, they’ll fight them. Galahad says that God shall deliver them from their enemies.

Chapter 8 A squire comes and, learning who the knights are, blows a great horn. Armed knights arrive and order them to yield. Instead, they drive against the knights and fight, killing many, though they then are sorry to have killed so many. A priest comes and, as the three take communion, tells them that this castle used to belong to Lord Earl Hernox, whose daughter was loved by three knights. One day they raped her and then imprisoned her father and killed many priests, burning down many chapels. God, therefore, is pleased at Arthur’s knights, he says.

Chapter 9 They take the earl out of prison. Then they all hear a voice telling Galahad that he has performed well, and now must go to the Maimed King to heal him. The three knights depart with Percivale’s sister. They follow a white hart and four lions who lead them to a hermitage. In the chapel the hart becomes a man, and the four lions become a man, a lion, an eagle, and an ox. A voice says that thus entered the Son of God into Mary’s womb. Astonished, the knights go to the priest and ask him what this means. He says that the hart is Jesus, who is transformed from death to life as both man and God. The four with him are the four evangelists of the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). The knights rest there and depart the next day.

Chapter 10 The three knights then meet a man who grasps the lady’s bridle and says she won’t escape until she has performed the castle’s custom. Percivale orders the man to release his sister, but ten armed knights come out of a nearby castle with a dish of silver, saying they require blood from the lady’s right arm. Percivale, Sir Bors, and Galahad race towards the knights and kill them all. Then 60 knights emerge and tell them they will not be harmed as long as they grant the custom. Galahad fights with them and kills many, and then a good knight comes and offers to tell them of the reason for the custom.

Chapter 11 The knight says that the lady who owns the castle fell sick long ago. Finally an old man said she must have the dish of a worthy virgin’s blood in order to heal. Percivale’s sister says it will be of great glory for her to help the lady, even if she dies as a result. In the morning they bleed Percivale’s sister, who cries that she will die to make the lady whole. She asks Percivale to put her coffin in a boat, which will lead her to the City of Sarras, to be buried in a holy place. Percivale agrees, weeping. The lady is healed, and Percivale’s sister dies. Percivale puts her in a barge, and a great storm rocks the castle all night. Then they see from afar a wounded knight who asks for help. Sir Bors takes his horse and rides after him.

Chapter 12 Galahad and Percivale remain in the castle all night. After the storm they emerge and see that many have died, and they hear a voice saying that this is God’s vengeance for the bloodshed of maidens. They find a churchyard with a chapel full of the bodies of maidens who had bled to death for the old lady’s sake: twelve of them are kings’ daughters.

Chapter 13 Percivale and Galahad leave each other. Meanwhile, Launcelot has heard in a dream to seek out a ship. He does so, and when he enters it he feels great sweetness and joy. In the ship is the body of a lady: Percivale’s sister. In her hand is a document, in Percivale’s hand, which tells what has happened. Launcelot remains on the ship for a month. One night he stops at a port, and Galahad comes to meet him. They embrace and tell each other of their adventures. Launcelot marvels at Galahad’s sword (the sword from the ship). They perform many adventures on and off the ship for six months.

Chapter 14 One Monday Galahad and Launcelot find a knight in white armor, who asks Galahad to leave his adventures with his father and return to the quest of the Sangreal. Galahad kisses his father and departs. Launcelot sails on the ship for a month and prays to see the Sangreal. He then arrives at a castle, which is guarded by two lions. He draws his sword, but a dwarf arrives and knocks the sword out of his hand. A voice says that Launcelot has had poor belief for failing to trust in God’s will. Launcelot repents, and goes up to the lions again without trying to kill them. They let him pass, and he enters the castle. He comes up to a locked chamber inside.

Chapter 15 Launcelot hears a sweet song from inside, and he realizes the Sangreal must be there. Finally the door opens. The chamber is lit up, but a voice tells Launcelot not to enter. He sees the Grail on a silver table with angels around it, with a priest next to it saying Mass. Suddenly it seems that the priest is about to swoon, so Launcelot, asking God’s forgiveness, decides to enter and help. But as he goes in, he feels a breath of fire and falls to the ground. Then he feels many hands lead him out of the chamber, and he loses consciousness. In the morning the residents of the castle find Launcelot and take him to a bedchamber where he remains unconscious for 24 days.

Chapter 16 On the 25th day Launcelot’s eyes open, and he tells those gathered around him that he has seen great marvels, but he also realizes he’s been punished by God. They tell him that he will never see more of the Sangreal than that, since he is not worthy enough. As he recovers, he is recognized as Launcelot, and King Pelles joyfully meets him (Launcelot realizes that he is in the castle of Carbonek in Corbin). The Sangreal is brought to the castle hall and it gives all a great feast. Then a knight comes and knocks on the door, ordering them to open it. The king says he may not enter while the Sangreal is here. The knight says he is Ector de Maris, and Pelles says his brother Launcelot is here. Ector both dreads and loves Launcelot, and he cries that his sorrow and shame is great. He leaves in haste.

Chapter 17 Launcelot then departs for England. He comes to a white abbey and sees an altar with a tomb, on which is written that here lies Bagdemagus, killed by Gawaine. Launcelot mourns this death. In the morning he arrives to Camelot, where he learns that over half the knights of the Round Table have been killed. Launcelot tells Arthur that out of Galahad, Percivale, and Sir Bors, he will only see one again.

Chapter 18 Meanwhile Galahad rides to the abbey where King Mordrains is held. Mordrains asks Galahad, as a pure virgin, to embrace him, and cries that he is now ready to meet God. Mordrains dies, and Galahad buries him. Galahad goes into the land of Gore and sees the tomb of Bagdemagus. Then he sees a great, flaming tomb, and the caretakers say that only the greatest knight of the Round Table might achieve this adventure. Galahad approaches the tomb and hears a voice—the speaker says that he is of Galahad’s kindred, and has dwelled in fire for 354 years to pay penance for his sin against Joseph of Arimathea. Then the fire goes out, and Galahad takes the body to the minister to be buried properly.

Chapter 19 Galahad rides on to the Maimed King. He meets Percivale and Sir Bors, and they ride together to the castle of Carbonek, where King Pelles greets them happily. Pelles’ son offers them the broken sword that had pierced Joseph through the thigh, but neither can mend it. Galahad is able to set the pieces together, and the sword suddenly seems like new. He gives it to Bors, since that adventure has been achieved. Then many of the knights depart, since the Sangreal vessel is about to feed the castle residents, but the pure knights are welcomed in. A sick knight in a crown of gold then enters the hall, and he greets Galahad and says only Galahad can cure him.

Chapter 20 King Pelles and his son then leave the hall, as they are not on the Sangreal quest. Then a man comes as if from heaven, clothed like a bishop, and on his clothing is writing saying that this is Joseph, the first bishop of Christendom. The knights marvel, since he had died 300 years before. Angels enter the room and place candles on the table, then a bloody spear, and then the Sangreal, covering it with a vessel. The bishop performs Mass, and then kisses Galahad, telling him that all will be fed with great food and drink. A man that looks like Jesus Christ emerges from the Holy Vessel, telling those present that they will see a part of his secrets. He brings the vessel to Galahad, who kneels down and receives communion, as do the other knights. Christ tells Galahad that the vessel is the dish from which he had eaten at the Last Supper. Galahad, Christ says, will see this vessel more openly in the spiritual city of Sarras, so he must depart with it. It will never again be in England, since its inhabitants do not worship it. He tells Galahad that the spear will cure the Maimed King. Percivale and Sir Bors will accompany him: two will die in his service, and one will survive to bear tidings. Jesus gives a blessing and then vanishes.

Chapter 21 Galahad touches the spear’s blood and then anoints the Maimed King, making him whole. Galahad, Percivale, and Bors then depart. They reach a ship, where they find the Sangreal covered with red silk. They pray, and Galahad asks to be delivered to heaven when he asks. A voice tells him that this shall be granted. They sleep, and when they awaken they see the city of Sarras, and then the ship holding the body of Percivale’s sister. They go into the city, where they see a crippled man. Galahad asks him to help bear the heavy vessel, and he does, and is cured. The knights take the tomb of Percivale’s sister and bury it richly. But then the King Estorause asks them why they’ve come, and, learning of the Sangreal, he imprisons them in a deep hole.

Chapter 22 Though the knights are imprisoned, the Sangreal feeds them and keeps them safe. After awhile King Estorause falls ill and calls for the three knights, asking them for forgiveness. When he dies, the whole city council decides to ask Galahad to be king. He makes a table of silver on which to place the Sangreal. All the knights pray before it every day.

One day they see a man clothed like a bishop praying before the vessel, and then beginning to say Mass. The holy man tells Galahad to come forth and see spiritual things as no man has before, which he does, trembling. He thanks God for this miracle. The man reveals himself as Joseph of Arimathea: he tells Galahad that he (like Joseph himself) has been blessed to remain a virgin, and also to have seen the marvels of the Sangreal. Galahad goes to Percivale and Bors and kisses them, asking them to send his blessings to Launcelot. Galahad kneels down and prays to God, and then a great number of angels bear his soul to heaven, along with the vessel and the bloody spear.

Chapter 23 Percivale and Sir Bors weep over Galahad’s death, and they bury his body. Percivale then becomes a holy man and lives in a hermitage for a year and two months, until he dies as well. Bors then leaves Sarras and rides to Camelot, where everyone rejoices over his return. Bors tells of the Sangreal adventures: the stories are written down into books and placed in the Salisbury libraries. Bors gives Launcelot blessings from Galahad, and Launcelot thanks him, swearing to be loyal to him forever.