The High History of the Holy Graal | Page 7

time at which the occurrence might be supposed to have taken place; and if he were writing in 1220, the revelation to the hermit would thus naturally be relegated to the year 720, the year under which the entry actually appears. This, of course, is pure guesswork, but the fact remains that the "Chronicle" was written in or about 1220, and the "Book of the Graal" not long before it.
The name of the author is nowhere recorded. He may possibly be referred to in the "Elucidation" prefixed to the rhymed version of "Percival le Gallois" under the name of "Master Blihis", but this vague and tantalising pseudonym affords no hint of his real identity. (13) Whoever he may have been; I hope that I am not misled by a translator's natural partiality for the author he translates in assigning him a foremost rank among the masters of medieval prose romance.
With these testimonies to its age and genuineness, I commend the "Book of the Graal" to all who love to read of King Arthur and his knights of the Table Round. They will find here printed in English for the first time what I take to be in all good faith the original story of Sir Perceval and the Holy Graal, whole and incorrupt as it left the hands of its first author.
-- Sebastian Evans, Coombe Lea, Bickley, Kent
ENDNOTES: (1) 6 vols. 8vo. Mons, 1866-1871. (2) Marchal "Cat.", 2 vols. Brussels, 1842. Vol i.p. 223. (3) Lausanne, 1759. (4) 3 vols. 8vo. Berne, 1770, etc. Vol. ii., Introduc. viii. and p. 389 et seq. (5) Rigord. "Chron." 196, p. 288. Wm. le Breton, "Phil." xi. 547. See also Birch-Hirschfeld, "Die Gralsage", p. 143. (6) 2 vols. 8vo. London, Richards, 1876-1892. (7) "L'histoire de Foulkes Fitz-Warin". Ed. F. Michel, Paris, 1840; p. 110. Ed. T. Wright (Warton Club), London, 1855; p. 179. Ed. J. Stevenson ("Roll, Pub. Chron." of R. Coggeshall), London, 1875; p. 412. The MS. containing the history (MS. Reg. 12. c. XII.) was first privately printed for the late Sir T. Duffus Hardy from a transcript by A. Berbrugger. (8) "Le Roman de Ham", in the Appendix to F. Michel's "Histoire des Ducs de Normandie". Soc. de l'Hist. de France, 1840, pp. 225, 230. (9) Helinandi Op. Ed. Migne. "Patrol." Vol. ccxii. col. 814. The former part of the passage is quoted with due acknowledgment by Vincent of Beauvais, "Spec. Hist." B. xxiii. c. 147. Vincent, however, spells the French word "grail", and, by turning Helinand's "nec" into "nune", makes him say that the French work can now easily be found complete. Vincent finished his "Speculum Historialz in 1244 B. xxi. c. 105. (10) Vol. i. p. 1, etc. (11) Sermon xxvi., printed in Minge, u.s. col. 692. It has been doubted whether this sermon, preached in the church of S. Jacques, was addressed to the Council held at Toulouse in 1219, or to the one held in 1229, but a perusal of the sermon itself decides the question. It is wholly irrelevant to the topics discussed at the former gathering, while it is one continued commentary on the business transacted at the latter. See also Dom Brial, "Hist. Litt. de la France", xviii. 92. (12) "De Mas Latrie. Tres. de Chron.", col. 1488. (13) Cf. Potvin, "P. le G." ii. 1 and 7, with vol. i. p. 131 and vol. ii. p. 112 of the present work (See also the Proceedings of the "Hon. Soc. of Cymmrodorion", 1908-9. Ed.)

THE HIGH HISTORY OF THE HOLY GRAAL
BRANCH I.
INCIPIT.
Hear ye the history of the most holy vessel that is called Graal, wherein the precious blood of the Saviour was received on the day that He was put on rood and crucified in order that He might redeem His people from the pains of hell. Josephus set it in remembrance by annunciation of the voice of an angel, for that the truth might be known by his writing of good knights, and good worshipful men how they were willing to suffer pain and to travail for the setting forward of the Law of Jesus Christ, that He willed to make new by His death and by His crucifixion.
TITLE I.
The High Book of the Graal beginneth in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. These three Persons are one substance, which is God, and of God moveth the High Story of the Graal. And all they that hear it ought to understand it, and to forget all the wickednesses that they have in their hearts. For right profitable shall it be to all them that shall hear it of the heart. For the sake of the worshipful men and good knights of whose deeds shall remembrance be made, doth Josephus recount this holy history, for the