Then was he somewhat comforted, and departed from the Cross on foot in a wild forest, and there he found a hermitage, and a hermit therein that was going to Mass.  And then Sir Lancelot kneeled down on both his knees, and cried our Lord mercy for his wicked works that he had done.  When Mass was done, Sir Lancelot called the hermit to him and prayed him for charity to hear his life.  With a good will, said the good man.  Sir, said he, be ye of King Arthur’s court, and of the fellowship of the Round Table?  Yea, forsooth, and my name is Sir Lancelot du Lake that hath been right well said of, and now my good fortune is changed, for I am the most wretched and caitiff of the world.

“Then the hermit beheld him, and had great marvel how he was so sore abashed.  Sir, said the good man, ye ought to thank God more than any knight living, for He hath caused you to have more worldly worship than any, and for your presumption to take upon you in deadly sin for to be in His presence where His flesh and His blood was, that caused you ye might not see it with your worldly eyes.  For He will not appear where such sinners be, but it be unto their great hurt and shame.  And there is no knight living now that ought to give unto God so great thank as ye.  For He hath given to you beauty, seemliness, and great strength above all other knights, and, therefore, ye are the more beholden to God than any man, to love Him and to dread Him; for your strength and manhood will little avail you, and God be against you.”

Then Lancelot makes his confession to the hermit as we have already related, is assoiled, and repents him greatly.  He remained three days with the hermit, and being then newly provided with a horse, helmet, and sword, he took his leave and rode away.  After this occurs the episode at the Cross, and his receiving the hair shirt.  On the morrow he jousted with many knights, and for the first time was thrown and overcome, all which he endured patiently as penance for his sins.  That night he laid himself down to sleep under an apple-tree and dreamed a strange dream.  At dawn he arose, armed himself and went on his way.  He next came to a chapel “where was a recluse which had a window that she might look up to the altar, and all aloud she called Sir Lancelot, and asked him whence he came, what he was, and what he went to seek.”  He told her all his dreams and visions, which she expounded, and gave him pious counsel, but told him that he was " of evil faith and poor belief.”

About this time he met Sir Galahad, and knew that he was his son.  Then, after various adventures, he came as near the Holy Grail as it was given to him to come.  As he was kneeling before a closed door in a castle “he heard a voice which sang sweetly, that it seemed none earthly thing.  And him thought that the voice said, joy and Honour be to the Father of Heaven.  Then Sir Lancelot wist well that there was the Sancgreall in that chamber.”  Then he prayed.