When the king was dead all the city was disheartened and knew not who might be their king. As they were in council there came a voice that bade them choose the youngest of the three knights. So they made Sir Galahad king with the assent of all the people of the city.
His first act was to have made a chest of gold and precious stones to cover the holy vessel, and every morning the three comrades came to the palace where it was kept and said their devotions.
The Passing of Sir Galahad, The End of Sir Percival, and the Return of Sir Bors to Camelot
Now, after Sir Galahad had been king a year, the three friends rose early, as was their custom, and came to the palace and saw the holy vessel and a man kneeling there, who had about him a great company of angels.
He called Sir Galahad and said, “Come forth, good and faithful servant, and thou shalt see what thou hast much desired to see.”
Then Sir Galahad began to tremble greatly, for he knew his time had come.
“Now,” said the good man, “knowest thou who I am?”
“Nay,” said Sir Galahad.
“I am Joseph of Arimathea, whom our Lord sent here to bear thee fellowship; for thou art like me more than any other in two things. One is, thou hast seen the Holy Grail; and the other is, thou hast been a blameless knight as I am.”
When he had said these words, Sir Galahad went to Sir Percival and Sir Bors and kissed them and commended them to God, and said, “Salute me to my father, Sir Launcelot, as soon as ye see him and bid him remember this unstable world.”