Editors: George W. Tuma, Professor Emeritus of English, and Dinah Hazell, Independent Scholar
Hosted by the English Department, San Francisco State University


 

THE WICKED AGE
MIDDLE ENGLISH COMPLAINT LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION


Table of Contents

Introduction
Historical Overview
Historical Chronology
Literary Chronology
Suggested Reading
Translators’ Notes
Abbreviations

Temper of the Times
How Goes This World About
Abuses of the Age I
Abuses of the Age II
Lack of Steadfastness
Truth is Unpopular
Now Is England Perished

Literature of Complaint
Introduction
The Monarchy
Introduction
On the King's Ministers
The Parliament of the Rats and Mice
The Crowned King
The Death of Edward III
Meed and Greed
Introduction
The Story of John of Canace
Go Better Penny
Money, Money!
Justice
Introduction
London Lickpenny
A Song on the Times
Sir Launfal
Exploitation
Introduction
Song of the Husbandman
Sir Cleges
Anticlericalism
Introduction
Land of Cokaygne
The Fox and the Wolf
Why I Can’t Be a Nun
Address to Sir John Oldcastle
Pierce the Plowman's Creed
Rebellion
Introduction
John Ball’s Letters
The Insurrection and Earthquake
Truth, Rest and Peace
God Save the King and Keep the Crown!

Literature of the Estates
Introduction
The Simonie
Introduction
C-Text Translation
Variants

Bibliography
Primary Sources
Secondary Sources