Satire in Late Medieval England

How does the English Literature of the late medieval period demonstrate both the tension in the social fabric of late medieval England and a consolidation of traditional beliefs?

The literature that circulated in late medieval England was fluent with critical satire of socio-political problems of the time. This is most apparent in Chaucer's work, who relentlessly critics the members of the Church and other hypocritical members of his society. Similarly, William Langland speaks out against the Church's corruption with a harsh voice in Piers Plowman. However, these works did not speak against a traditional Catholicism, rather the corruption of that tradition and the injustices it forced onto the English people. The reverence for the Church is abundant throughout the mystery plays, and even in Langland's and Chaucer's work. This appreciation of Catholic tradition is quite apparent in the retention of Catholic tradition via Anglicanism even after England's split from Rome.