CONTENTS
MAP [viii]
INTRODUCTION [ix]
I. ROBERT MANNYNG OF BRUNNE'S HANDLYNG SYNNE [ 1]
The Dancers of Colbek [4]
II. SIR ORFEO [13]
III. MICHAEL OF NORTHGATE'S AYENBYTE OF INWYT [32]
How Mercy increases Temporal Goods [33]
IV. RICHARD ROLLE OF HAMPOLE [36]
A. Love is Life [ 37]
B. The Nature of the Bee [41]
C. The Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost [42]
V. SIR GAWAYNE AND THE GRENE KNIGHT [44]
The Testing of Sir Gawayne [46]
VI. THE PEARL, ll. 361-612 [57]
VII. THE GEST HYSTORIALE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY [68]
Prologue [69]
The XXXI Book: Of the Passage of the Grekys fro Troy [72]
VIII. PIERS PLOWMAN [76]
A. From the B-Text, Passus VI [78]
B. From the C-Text, Passus VI [89]
IX. MANDEVILLE'S TRAVELS [94]
[Ethiopia.—Of Diamonds] From chap. xiv (xviii), f. 65 b. [96]
[Beyond Cathay] Chap. xxvi (xxx), f. 112 a. [100]
Epilogue [104]
X. JOHN BARBOUR'S BRUCE [107]
[An Assault on Berwick (1319)] The Bruce, Bk. xvii, ll. 593 ff. [108]
XI. JOHN WICLIF [115]
A. The Translation of the Bible [117]
B. Of Feigned Contemplative Life [119]
XII. JOHN GOWER [129]
A. Ceix and Alceone [131]
B. Adrian and Bardus [137]
XIII. JOHN OF TREVISA'S TRANSLATION OF HIGDEN'S POLYCHRONICON [145]
A. The Marvels of Britain [146]
B. The Languages of Britain [148]
XIV. POLITICAL PIECES [151]
A. On the Scots, by Minot [152]
B. The Taking of Calais, by Minot [153]
C. On the Death of Edward III [157]
D. John Ball's Letter to the Peasants of Essex [160]
E. On the Year 1390-1 [161]
XV. MISCELLANEOUS PIECES IN VERSE [162]
A. Now Springs the Spray [163]
B. Spring [164]
C. Alysoun [165]
D. The Irish Dancer [166]
E. The Maid of the Moor [167]
F. The Virgin's Song [167]
G. Judas [168]
H. The Blacksmiths [169]
I. Rats Away [170]
XVI. THE YORK PLAY 'HARROWING OF HELL' [171]
XVII. THE TOWNELEY PLAY OF NOAH [185]
NOTES [204]
APPENDIX: THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY [265]
