Fifteenth Century Prose and Verse

This volume brings together a lively selection of fifteenth‑century English writing, from the courtly verses of Lydgate and the sharp wit of Hoccleve to the familiar Robin Hood ballads that first entered print. Interspersed are festive Christmas carols, a short miracle play, a morality drama, and a handful of William Caxton’s colourful prologues and epilogues, all presented in modern spelling to ease contemporary listening. The editor also adds curious pieces on translation practices and a courtroom deposition that hint at the era’s shifting theatrical business.

The collection is framed by a concise introduction that explains the editor’s choices and the scholarly sources consulted, offering listeners a clear roadmap through the varied material. By smoothing out the irregular medieval orthography, the book invites a wider audience to hear the rhythm and tone of texts that once flickered on the stage of Tudor England. Listeners will discover how these poems, songs, and legal scraps together sketch a vibrant cultural tapestry of a transformative century.