Perceval looked at the army and the plain filled with their tents and lodges and huts made with branches that they’d gathered in the forest; and beyond the host he saw a tree, fairer than any from there to Calabria, planted in the meadow and thick with branches. From it hung a massive bell: there aren’t four men in Scotland with the strength, if they tried to ring it, to move its tongue more than an inch! As soon as the bell rang, everyone in the castle knew there was to be battle outside the walls.

The fair damsel who drove the cart called Perceval to her and told him he should go to the tree and not hesitate to ring the bell. ‘Then you’ll see the army rush to the alert and the Knight of the Dragon will come. They’ll let the two of you join battle and will do you no harm, I promise you: he’s made them all swear that any man who can defeat him will have nothing to fear from any of them.’

‘My word,’ said Perceval, ‘he’s decent enough in that respect, at least! I commend you to God – I’m going at once.’

And with that he turned and left her and galloped straight off to the tree, and she raised her right hand and blessed him with the sign of the cross in the name of the heavenly King; and there she stayed in floods of tears.
Perceval rode up to the tree where the bell hung, and swore by everything most holy that he’d try his strength and ring it if he could. So he prepared to sound the bell, and gripped the rope and pulled; and the bell rang out so loud and clear that the whole castle echoed and the army leapt to the alert – its peal reached every plain and hill and valley for three leagues all around. The knights and maidens in the town heard the sound and climbed up to the walls that instant – even the limping and the lame came and ranged along the walls, all finding a place to prop themselves; and the lady, with her maids around her, hurried to the top of the tower.

Gerbert's Continuation of Perceval