Thus it was that the plans of King Clamadius and his counsellor failed of effect, whereupon Sir Clamadius was very angry at that wise old knight.  So that, when that counsellor came to him again and said:  “Sir, I have another plan,” King Clamadius cried out very fiercely:  “Away with thy plans!  They are all of no avail.”  Then Sir Clamadius said:  “When to-morrow comes, I myself will undertake this affair.  For I will go and give challenge to this knight, and so I shall hope to decide this quarrel man to man.  For unless yonder knight be Sir Launcelot of the Lake or Sir Lamorack of Gales, I do not think he will be my peer in an encounter of man to man.”

[Sidenote:  Sir Clamadius arms himself for battle] So when the next morning had come, Sir Clamadius armed himself at all points and straightway betook himself to a fair, smooth meadow beneath the walls of the castle.  And when he had come there he cried out:  “Sir Red Knight, come forth and speak with me.”

So after a while Sir Percival appeared at the top of the castle wall, and he said:  “Messire, here I am; what is it you would have of me?”

Then Sir Clamadius said:  “Messire, are you Sir Launcelot of the Lake?” And Sir Percival said:  “Nay, I am not he.”  Sir Clamadius said:  “Art thou then Sir Lamorack of Gales?” And Sir Percival said:  “Nay, I am not he.”  Then Sir Clamadius said:  “Who, then, art thou?” Sir Percival said:  “I am not any great knight-champion such as those two of whom you speak, but am a young knight who have not fought more than twice or thrice in my life.”

At that Sir Clamadius was very glad, for he feared that Sir Percival might be some famous knight well-seasoned in arms.  Wherefore when he found that Sir Percival was only a young and untried knight, he thought it would be an easy matter to deal with him.  So he said:  “Messire, I challenge thee to come forth to battle with me man to man so that thou and I may settle this quarrel betwixt us, for it is a pity to shed more blood than is necessary in this quarrel.  So if thou wilt come forth and overthrow me, then I will withdraw my people from this place; but if I overthrow thee, then this castle shall be yielded up to me with all that it contains.”

To this Sir Percival said:  “Sir Knight, I am very willing to fight with thee upon that issue.  But first of all I must obtain the consent of the Lady Blanchefleur to stand her champion.”

So Sir Percival went to the Lady Blanchefleur, and he said:  “Lady, will you accept me as your champion to fight the issue of this quarrel man to man with Sir Clamadius?”

She said:  “Percival, thou art very young to have to do with so old and well-seasoned a knight.  Now I greatly fear for your life in such a battle as that.”

To this Sir Percival said:  “Lady, I know that I am young, but indeed I feel a very big spirit stir within me, so that if thou wilt trust me, I have belief that, with the grace of God, I shall win this battle.”