And then, just as they were about to clear the cloths, a girl came through the door, carrying a wondrously handsome shield: all white it was, with a red cross, and in the cross was a relic that certainly mustn’t go unmentioned, for in it was embedded a piece of the holy wood on which the flesh of Jesus Christ, the son of God, was tortured. The shield was made by two Chaldeans who’d been converted to God; and they’d made it in such a way that no one could find the holy grail or the lance with the ever-bleeding head except the first to be able to take the shield from this beautiful maiden’s neck. But it was at his peril that any man touched it or tried to take it unless he was the bravest in the world, both in word and deed, and confessed of all his sins; were he not, he’d instantly be destroyed in a hail of a thousand stones, and nothing could protect him. There was an inscription upon it to that effect for the benefit of all who saw the shield and were able to read.

The girl stepped straight in. She’d been scouring many lands, both day and night, but no one who read the inscription would lay a hand upon the shield: they didn’t dare – it was too fearsome a test. Without a moment’s hesitation Perceval ran to help the damsel from her horse. And first he took the shield from her neck: it weighed little, but was made of such fine stuff that it feared no blow from any lance. When she saw he’d taken the shield she threw herself to the ground: she knew now he was the finest knight in all the world, for confession, which washes sin away, had greatly increased his worth.

Gerbert's Continuation of Perceval