"An thou wouldst play the part, Thou must sound the part! "

A modest guide to Elizabethan phrases

Wouldn't it enhance your Faire experience if you were able to come up with one or two choice phrases to use when interacting with others? It doesn't take a major effort. You won't have to memorize hundreds of lines. In order to perform more effectively and take your fellow fair goers and audience back in time to Elizabeth's age, all you need is to find a few phrases and or words from this guide and use them appropriately.

Everyone who spoke early modern English has been dead for at least four hundred years, so we will try our best to pretend we know how. If you are familiar with Shakespeare or have read the King James version of the bible, you'll add to your character. Think double negatives ("Nay, not.") and lots of verb-form changes. Contractions were common ('Tis" =it is; E'en = even or evening). Keep your conversation simple and you won't get into trouble with language

Get used to using Thou, Thee, and Thine. Thou and thee were used when speaking to people you knew well; family, friends, and God. You was reserved for nobility. Thine is possessive, showing that "it" belongs to the person you are addressing. Ye was used in addressing a crowd, in smaller groups You and Your were used. Notice that Thy was used with a noun, that is, Thy Book, Thy Life, Thy cup. More examples: Thou art beautiful; I love thee; Where is thy man/woman? Thine efforts shall be rewarded. Ye is plural of thou. That is, Ye say ye are the children of Abraham.

Nay is no. Examples: Nay, I know him not.
Aye (pronounced EYE) is yes.

Forms of address

Because everyone knew his class, Sir and Mistress were forms that could be used for just about any male or female. Madame is for a married woman of middle class. My Lord and My Lady are to be used to address nobility. Monarchs are to be addressed as Your Majesty or Your Grace. A peasant is Goodman or Goodwife. It is also proper to address someone by their trade, that is, Goodman Blacksmith or Master Tailor, or Goodwife Weaver, etc.

Types of Greetings

These are the most important and most commonly used phrases. Good Day, Good Even, Good Morrow, Save Thee, What ho! (What's up), How fare'st thou? (How are you), Where hail ye from? (Where are you from), Tarry and feast (Stay and eat), Fare thee well (goodbye), How stands the hour? (What time is it?), What be thy pleasure? (What would you like), Tarry and sit thee down (stay and sit), I thank thee (thank you), Gramercy (thank you), What ails thee? (what's the matter), What be thy title? (what's your name?), God bid thee good den (have a good day).

Insults

A choice word or two of insult will round out your character nicely. Here is a list of some of the most common, you would do well to pick just two or three that you like the sound and meaning of and throw them around liberally.

"A Pox on thee"
"God's teeth"
"Thou art a scurvy knave" (to a man you want to insult)
"Thou pox ridden doxy" (to a female you don't like)
"Thou liftskirt" (to a female you don't like)
"Thou misbegotten son of Beelzebub"
"Thou milksop" (Wimp)
"Thou Popinjay" (Clotheshorse)
"I give not a tinker's damn" (I don't care)
"God's wounds"
"She's no better than she should be!" (A woman of easy virtue)

Compliments

Win you way into a man or maid's favour with a nice compliment or two.

"Thou art wondrous fair, Milady"
"Thou art a most stalwart lad"
"Thou art a right comely wench"
"She be a right buxom dame/lass" (well endowed)
"My gentle servant" (The words a lady would use to her lover)

Terms

1. Laced Mutton - A Prostitute
2. Flemish Drunkard - The Flemings were noted for having the national pastime of drinking.
3. Red Lattice - In Elizabeth's day red lattices at the doors and windows of a building denoted an alehouse.
4. Potatoes - In these days, potatoes were supposed to be strong provocatives or aphrodisiacs.
5. Kissing comfits - Sugar-plums
6. Winchester goose - Prostitute
7. Doxy - A woman of easy virtue
8. Strumpet - A woman of easy virtue.
9. Malkin - Old hag
10. Elf-locks - Dredlocks
11. Side sleeves - over sleeves of garments which hang loose
12. Lovelock - A single lock of hair hanging long which was a foppish custom for young men.
13. A Gawd - Child's play toy.
14. Warder - Truncheon