The Age Of Elizabethan Theatre Essay Research — страница 5

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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