Evidence for medieval thinking about marriage, drawn from a number of literary texts.

Part 1 Perspectives upon medieval marriage: modern theories of medieval marriage - the two models; medieval theories of marriage - canon law and theology; Guilhem IX of Aquitaine - "champion of adultery"?; Andreas Capellanus - "adultery's legislator"? Part 2 Literary paradigms: "Ruodlieb"; "Le Mystere d'Adam"; "Erec et Enide"; the letters of Abelard and Heloise. Part 3 "The St Albans Psalter": the development of the legend of St Alexis; the "Chanson de St Alexis" and its treatment of marriage; St Alexis and Guy of Warwick; "The Life of St Christina of Markyate". Part 4 Corpus Christ College Cambridge MS 402 and Oxford Bodley MS 34 (the "AB-Group"): wooing - "Ancrene Wisse", Part VII; wooing - the "Lives" of Juliana, Margaret and Katherine; virginity and marriage - "Hali Meithhad". Part 5 Jesus College Oxford MS 29 and BL MS Cotton Caligula A9: the Middle English lyrics; Chardri - "Le Petit Plet"; "The Owl and the Nightingale" - introduction; the death of the nightingale; the nightingale's defence - ll 1331-1416; maidens and wives - ll 1417-1602.