Post by Makzimia on Feb 4, 2004 0:28:48 GMT
Forms of Address and a Note on Pronouns
Proper Forms of Address. This material is drawn from pages 92-94 of the Chivalry and Sorcery Game Master's Handbook:
Social status was important in Medieval society. Unlike in modern society where we all claim the "right" to be treated as
"equals," feudals didn't engage in such nonsense. It was obvious who was superior and who was inferior. Who your ancestors were
decided who you were.
Even the lowliest serf believed in the basic rightness of this fact! Nor did he resent being at the bottom of the class system
and having to say "Sir" and "M'Lord" to the nobility.
* * * * *
To encourage role-playing with a degree of authenticity, proper forms of address can be used. While not essential, courtly
manners and the proper show of respect is a good way to establishing "atmosphere" in a role-playing campaign and give players the
feeling of actually being in a feudal society.
"Sire" is normally used by vassals addressing their liege lord, as well as by squires addressing the knight who nourished them.
Context is very important in using Forms of Address. For example, a chaplain may address a Duke as "My Lord" in public, but as
"My Son" in the confessional. Also, friends of close social rank will often address one another by given names. Similarly,
sarcastically calling a poor landless knight such as Garnfellow "Sir Girth" in the Boar is one thing. However, to speak
disrespectfully of any knight in front of his peers and in a courtly setting is a good way for a peasant to get soundly beaten or
possibly imprisoned. Even the fattest and most foolish of knights is considered to have more inherent worth than the wisest and
noblest of peasants. This point cannot be emphasized enough: nobody likes an uppity churl, not even other peasants.
Thus, the proper way for the PCs to address Richard, Baronet of Lownell, is as either "My Lord," or "Lord Lownell." As both noble
sons and knights, Edgar and Steven are addressed as "My Lord," "Lord Edgar" or "Lord Steven," or "Sir Edgar" or "Sir Steven."
John the Bastard should be addressed as "Sir John." And in formal settings—however much it might stick in the craw—Garnfellow
should be called "Sir Will."
As the C&S Game Master's Handbook puts it, "Subordinates can never go wrong by using `Sir' or `My Lord,' or `My Lady' or `Master'
or `Mistress.' But using familiar forms of address to a social superior is a faux pas in an intensely class-conscious society"
(93).
The niceties of formal address are known only to members of the nobility, the Church, or to characters with the Etiquette
non-weapon proficiency. Proper use of such conventions will likely impress nobles and clergy.
Social Position Proper Form of Address
One's Overlord Sire, My Liege, My Liege Lord, My Lord King Sire, Your Majesty
Queen My Lady, Your Royal Highness, Madam, Ma'am
Prince Sire, Your Royal Highness, or as Overlord
Princess My Lady, Your Royal Highness
Duke My Lord, My Lord Duke, Your Grace, (Sire if royalty)
Marquis or Margrave My Lord, My Lord Marquis, Lord [ name of holding], (Sire if royalty)
Earl or Count My Lord, Lord [ name of holding], (Sire if of royalty)
Baron or Baronet My Lord, Lord [ name of holding]
Knight Sir [ given name] (My Lord if addressed by subordinate vassal, retainer, or manorfolk)
Noble Lady My Lady, Your Ladyship, Lady [ given name], Madam, Ma'am, or else by title: My Queen, Princess, Marquessa, Countess,
Baroness, etc.
Noble Son My Lord, Lord [ given name]
Noble Daughter My Lady, Your Ladyship, Lady [ given name]
Knight's son Master [ given name]
Knight's daughter My Lady, Lady [ given name], Mistress [ given name]
Lord Chancellor My Lord, My Lord Chancellor, or by title if noble
Lord of Council My Lord or by title
Lord Justice My Lord, Sire, or by title
Lord Mayor My Lord, Your Worship
Lord Mayor's Wife Madam, Ma'am, Mistress, Mistress [ given name]
Pope Your Holiness, Most Holy Father
Cardinal Your Eminence
Archbishop Your Excellency, Your Grace, My Lord, My Lord Archbishop
Archdeacon Venerable Sir, Reverend Father, Father [ given name]
Canon or Dean Very Reverend Sir, Reverend Father, Father [ given name]
Rector of a Parish Reverend Father, Father [ given name]
Curate or Chaplain Father, Father [ given name]
Abbot or Prior Reverend Father, My Dear Abbot, or Father [ given name]
Monk or Friar Brother [ given name]
Abbess or Prioress Very Reverend Mother, Reverend Mother, Mother [ given name]
Nun Sister, Sister [ given name]
Mayor of a Town Your Worship, (Sir by commoners)
Royal Justice My Lord
Junior Serjeant Master, Squire, Squire [ given name]
Wife of Prominent Commoner Mistress, Mistress [ given name]
Freeman or Freewoman [ given name]
On Pronouns. There is an important distinction between the second person pronouns thou, thee, and thy and ye, you, and your. The
most obvious difference is that thou is singular and you is plural. However, these pronouns also distinguish social rank. The
singular forms ( thou, thee, thy) are used in addressing familiars, children, or persons of inferior social rank. The plural
forms ( ye, you, your) are used as a mark of respect when addressing a superior.
Proper Forms of Address. This material is drawn from pages 92-94 of the Chivalry and Sorcery Game Master's Handbook:
Social status was important in Medieval society. Unlike in modern society where we all claim the "right" to be treated as
"equals," feudals didn't engage in such nonsense. It was obvious who was superior and who was inferior. Who your ancestors were
decided who you were.
Even the lowliest serf believed in the basic rightness of this fact! Nor did he resent being at the bottom of the class system
and having to say "Sir" and "M'Lord" to the nobility.
* * * * *
To encourage role-playing with a degree of authenticity, proper forms of address can be used. While not essential, courtly
manners and the proper show of respect is a good way to establishing "atmosphere" in a role-playing campaign and give players the
feeling of actually being in a feudal society.
"Sire" is normally used by vassals addressing their liege lord, as well as by squires addressing the knight who nourished them.
Context is very important in using Forms of Address. For example, a chaplain may address a Duke as "My Lord" in public, but as
"My Son" in the confessional. Also, friends of close social rank will often address one another by given names. Similarly,
sarcastically calling a poor landless knight such as Garnfellow "Sir Girth" in the Boar is one thing. However, to speak
disrespectfully of any knight in front of his peers and in a courtly setting is a good way for a peasant to get soundly beaten or
possibly imprisoned. Even the fattest and most foolish of knights is considered to have more inherent worth than the wisest and
noblest of peasants. This point cannot be emphasized enough: nobody likes an uppity churl, not even other peasants.
Thus, the proper way for the PCs to address Richard, Baronet of Lownell, is as either "My Lord," or "Lord Lownell." As both noble
sons and knights, Edgar and Steven are addressed as "My Lord," "Lord Edgar" or "Lord Steven," or "Sir Edgar" or "Sir Steven."
John the Bastard should be addressed as "Sir John." And in formal settings—however much it might stick in the craw—Garnfellow
should be called "Sir Will."
As the C&S Game Master's Handbook puts it, "Subordinates can never go wrong by using `Sir' or `My Lord,' or `My Lady' or `Master'
or `Mistress.' But using familiar forms of address to a social superior is a faux pas in an intensely class-conscious society"
(93).
The niceties of formal address are known only to members of the nobility, the Church, or to characters with the Etiquette
non-weapon proficiency. Proper use of such conventions will likely impress nobles and clergy.
Social Position Proper Form of Address
One's Overlord Sire, My Liege, My Liege Lord, My Lord King Sire, Your Majesty
Queen My Lady, Your Royal Highness, Madam, Ma'am
Prince Sire, Your Royal Highness, or as Overlord
Princess My Lady, Your Royal Highness
Duke My Lord, My Lord Duke, Your Grace, (Sire if royalty)
Marquis or Margrave My Lord, My Lord Marquis, Lord [ name of holding], (Sire if royalty)
Earl or Count My Lord, Lord [ name of holding], (Sire if of royalty)
Baron or Baronet My Lord, Lord [ name of holding]
Knight Sir [ given name] (My Lord if addressed by subordinate vassal, retainer, or manorfolk)
Noble Lady My Lady, Your Ladyship, Lady [ given name], Madam, Ma'am, or else by title: My Queen, Princess, Marquessa, Countess,
Baroness, etc.
Noble Son My Lord, Lord [ given name]
Noble Daughter My Lady, Your Ladyship, Lady [ given name]
Knight's son Master [ given name]
Knight's daughter My Lady, Lady [ given name], Mistress [ given name]
Lord Chancellor My Lord, My Lord Chancellor, or by title if noble
Lord of Council My Lord or by title
Lord Justice My Lord, Sire, or by title
Lord Mayor My Lord, Your Worship
Lord Mayor's Wife Madam, Ma'am, Mistress, Mistress [ given name]
Pope Your Holiness, Most Holy Father
Cardinal Your Eminence
Archbishop Your Excellency, Your Grace, My Lord, My Lord Archbishop
Archdeacon Venerable Sir, Reverend Father, Father [ given name]
Canon or Dean Very Reverend Sir, Reverend Father, Father [ given name]
Rector of a Parish Reverend Father, Father [ given name]
Curate or Chaplain Father, Father [ given name]
Abbot or Prior Reverend Father, My Dear Abbot, or Father [ given name]
Monk or Friar Brother [ given name]
Abbess or Prioress Very Reverend Mother, Reverend Mother, Mother [ given name]
Nun Sister, Sister [ given name]
Mayor of a Town Your Worship, (Sir by commoners)
Royal Justice My Lord
Junior Serjeant Master, Squire, Squire [ given name]
Wife of Prominent Commoner Mistress, Mistress [ given name]
Freeman or Freewoman [ given name]
On Pronouns. There is an important distinction between the second person pronouns thou, thee, and thy and ye, you, and your. The
most obvious difference is that thou is singular and you is plural. However, these pronouns also distinguish social rank. The
singular forms ( thou, thee, thy) are used in addressing familiars, children, or persons of inferior social rank. The plural
forms ( ye, you, your) are used as a mark of respect when addressing a superior.
