SUMMERS, KAREN CRADY, Ph.D. Reading Incest - The University ...

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demonstrated to all present on that Christmas night in the “grettist chirch of London” (7)
when he was crowned? The parallels linking Arthur to Christianity are unmistakable as
are the references to pagan practices. It is Merlin the wizard who advises the Archbishop
of Canterbury to issue the command for “all the lordes and gentilmen of arms” (7) to
appear in the church, effectively sanctifying the proceedings. It is true that medieval sin
could be classified and ranked, and that some sins were worse than others, but this
Christian king neglects the thing that ameliorates all sin: confession and repentance. As
has been demonstrated earlier in this chapter, the incest theme is often used in tales to
teach medieval listeners that even this worst sin of all can be forgiven by a merciful God,
with confession and repentance as prerequisites.
When Guenevere learned of Arthur’s death, she
lete make herself a nunne, and wered whyght clothys and blak, and grete
penaunce she toke upon her, as ever ded synfull woman in thys londe. And never
creature coude make her myry, but ever she lyved in fastynge, prayers, and almesdedis,
that all maner of people mervayled how virtuously she was changed. (718)
After Lancelot learned of Arthur’s death, and that of all the other knights, he went to seek
out Guenevere at the convent, who swooned thrice to see him. Now Guenevere at last
takes the necessary action. Addressing herself to her ladies and Lancelot, publicly
instead of behind closed bedroom doors, she takes responsibility for her actions,
confessing that
thorow thys same man and me hath all thys warre be wrought, and the deth of the
moste nobelest knyghtes of the worlde; for thorow oure love that we have loved
togydir ys my moste noble lorde slayne. Therefore, sir Launcelot, wyte thou well
I am sette in suche a plyght to gete my soul hele. And yet I trust, thorow Goddis