The rituals of the English church are still too Roman to suit the Puritans. They would prefer that candles, bells, saints and vestments of any kind be removed.
Certain evangelical preachers are even more radical. They also maintain:
? Scripture is not the only source of God’s truth.
? It is still possible for the Holy Spirit to speak through an individual. A man (or more rarely, a woman) can have personal revelations not only of the nature of God but about matters of daily life.
? While revelation is an intensely personal experience, the person so visited has an obligation to communicate his vision with the rest of the Christian community.
Masters & Servants
Terms
Grooms are generic household serving men; grooms of the stable, chamber, etc. Females of the same order are called maids or serving maids: of the kitchen, chamber, still room, etc.
Most of the servants in any household are men.
Personal attendant is a descriptive term, not a job title. In general, it separates everyone else’s personal servants (of all ranks) from household grooms and maids. (Never introduce anyone as “my P.A.”)
The term valet is in use in English as early as 1567. According to the OED, a valet is “a man-servant performing duties chiefly relating to the person of his master; a gentleman’s personal attendant.”
From ‘varlet’: the British pronunciation is (and almost certainly was) “VAL-ett”. Valet (val-AY) is a little too French, don’t y’think?
The most common term for the job is gentleman, manservant, or just man. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio refers to Romeo’s ever present servant as “his man”, as in “Romeo came not home tonight. I spoke with his man.”
Female equivalents are waiting gentlewoman or maid, depending on the rank of the relevant parties. A lady might refer to her gentlewoman or her maid. (Only the Queen has Ladies in Waiting.)
As a verb, say that you serve, or wait upon, or attend (but not “work for”) someone. Or that you are waited on or attended to by someone.
General Attitudes
Credit, or reputation, has to do with one’s personal dignity or honor. Frances Countess of Sussex once said (1588) “My credit is more to me than my life.”
A servant and master strive to do each other credit. As a noble, it is unbecoming to your dignity to carry your own shopping basket. As a noble’s servant, it is unbecoming to your dignity to let her.
As a noble, it befits your dignity to dress yourself and your servants well. As a servant, you do your master credit by looking and behaving well. Sir Thomas Smith said, “A gentleman should go like a gentleman.” People do not dress their servants in rags. (See Livery.)
Servants are not democrats. In general, they approve of the social order, just like their masters. And they intend to take advantage of it.
A servant in a fine house expects (if he is clever) to rise in the world, improve his fortunes, and create an even better place for his children. A stable groom might aspire to become butler or steward in the same or a greater house. The pot boy might hope one day to be chief cook.
Servants take money from anyone. They will accept a vail (tip) for any service rendered. (”Here’s a penny to drink my health.”) Or a douceur (sweetener) for favors requested. They expect to be vailed for delivering a gift or message. Their masters are aware of this, and do it themselves to other people’s servants.
It is not considered dishonest unless loyalties become confused and compromised.
The good servant, like a good waiter, is attentive. The best servant is a little bit psychic. He is there when you need him but never hovers. He finds some virtuous occupation when you disappear. He is neither lewd nor vain, but maintains a respectable countenance, to the credit of his master. He is modest but never craven, humble but never base, candid but not insolent.
The good master is proud but never despotic. He is patient, governing his household with fatherly care. He does not twist your sincere desire to serve into a sincere desire to punch him out. He lets you do your job. He maintains his superior station, as God has given it him, by honorable behavior, not by argument.
Ranks and Files
The ordinary ranking of the English Court, disregarding various offices, parents, patents, or orders of knighthood is as follows:
Men Women
Duke Duchess
Marquis (MAR-kwis) Marchioness (MAR-shon-ess)
Earl Countess
Viscount (vEYE-count) Viscountess (vEYE-count-ess)
Baron Baroness
Knight Knight’s lady
Royalty refers only to the monarch and his/her immediate family.
Nobility refers to peers and their families.
The peers are barons and above, and sit by right in the House of Lords.
Gentry refers to anyone gentle but untitled, usually descended from nobility.
Knights are not noble. They are knightly. Knights and peers’ sons may sit, by election or appointment, in the House of Commons.
An ordinary, undifferentiated knight is a Knight Bachelor.
Knight Banneret is an honour conferred on a man who distinguished himself on the battlefield in front of his monarch. It is a battlefield promotion which permits him to cut the tails off his pennon (making it a banner) and permits/requires him to lead a company of his own men under it. In Elizabeth’s reign, there are only three, including Sir Ralph Sadler.
Knights of the Garter outrank all the other knights.
Note: The rank of Baronet (an hereditary knighthood) does not exist until James I invents it as a money making scheme.
In 1558, there were no more than about 600 knights in the country.
Minors and women holding rank in their own right may not sit in the House of Lords. Minors must wait till they are old enough. A woman may send her eldest son “in her right,” when he comes of age.
Certain ecclesiastical titles are also ranked with the peers. Bishops have a rank equal to that of an Earl. Archbishops rank with the Dukes, and are addressed as Your Grace.
The Queen has little use for Churchmen, however, and seldom invites them ’round to dine.
Services and Occupations
You get… From the…
Books Stationer or bookseller
Cloth Mercer
Hats Milliner or Hatter
Suit of Clothes Tailor
Shirts/Smocks Seamstress
Ready made clothes Draper
Arrows Fletcher
Bows Bowyer
Horseshoes Farrier
Other iron work Blacksmith
Armor Armorer
A Portrait Limner
Legal Service Lawyer
Drugs etc. Apothecary
Dentistry Barber Surgeon
In town…
A Stapler Buys and sells raw wool; also silk and linen.
A Draper Deals in cloth (wholesale), plus some ready-made garments and dry goods.
A Mercer Is the cloth retailer: the local fabric store is a mercer’s shop. One may be a silk mercer or a wool mercer, for example.
On your own staff, your…
Man of Business Is your accountant, looks after your investments
Steward Oversees the running of your estates.
Factor Does business for you in London, or in another country.
Nurse Takes care of infants and young children.
Wet Nurse Breast feeds the baby (maybe as long as the first 2 years.)
Tutor Educates your children