Worksheet 1: Renaissance titles and addresses - Examines the correct forms of titling for various classes of Renaissance society.

Titles and forms Of Address.

Sir goes only with a given name.

To address a knight using only his surname, say Master (see examples below).Lord implies a peerage (baron or better). Not every knight is a lord; not every lord is a knight. It is best not to say My Lord to anyone not so entitled.

A territorial title is one which is attached to a particular piece of land, such as a county. Peers sign their names and refer to themselves and each other by their territorial titles, such as "Henry Southampton", "Francis Bedford", or "Thomas Rutland."

Every woman married to a knight or better can be called my lady. For unmarried women, see the various examples.

The children of a knight, baron, or viscount have no titles at all. All the sons of a marquis or a duke are styled lord. Only the eldest son of an earl is called lord (because he takes his father's secondary title and is one, by courtesy) though all an earl's daughters are styled lady. They retain this courtesy even if they marry a commoner.

Your Grace belongs properly only to royal blood: the queen, dukes, and visiting princesses. It does not apply to Earls or Countesses in the 16th century. The styles of Honourable or Right Honourable for younger sons and daughters of peers has not yet come into use.

Esquires are the younger sons of peers, the heirs male of knights, esquires of the body, and officials such as judges, sheriffs, and officers of the royal household. Esquire is not actually a title, although it may be used after a gentleman's surname; as, William More, Esquire.

If you are not noble, you may wish to address those above you as Your Worship, Your Honour, or Your Lordship/Ladyship. Children are taught to address their parents as Sir and Madam, or my lord and my lady. A noble child refers to my lady mother and the lord my father.

Knightly Rank,

Sir John Packington can be called Sir John or Master Packington, but not Sir Packington.

Captain Sir Walter Raleigh can also be called Sir Walter or Master Raleigh or Captain Raleigh, but never Sir Raleigh.

Sir Thomas Jermyn's wife Catherine, can be called Catherine Lady Jermyn, or Lady Jermyn, but not Lady Catherine.

Note: It is possible that Dame may be used with the Christian name of a knight's wife, or any gentlewoman, although it may be just an old-fashioned usage, more Country than Court. Sir Thomas More's wife seems to have been addressed as Dame Alice. (ref. Oxford English Dictionary).

Peers

Margaret Douglas, the Countess of Lennox can be called Lady Lennox, But not Lady Douglas Francis Russell,

The Earl of Bedford can be called Lord Bedford, But not Lord Russell Anthony Browne,

Viscount Montague can be called Lord Montague, but not Lord Browne Marjorie Williams,

the Baroness Norreys of Rycote is a baron's wife. She can be called Lady Norreys, but not Lady Williams.

Sir William Cecil, Baron Burghley, the Lord Treasurer can be called Sir William or Lord Burghley or My Lord Treasurer, But not Sir Cecil.

Maids of Honor and Other Unmarried Children ("courtesy titles")

Courtesy titles are used only with Christian names, never with surnames.

Use the following samples as guidelines. Lady Margaret Russell, a Maid of Honor, and an Earl's daughter can be called Lady Margaret or Mistress Russell, but never Lady Russell and is never styled "Lady Margaret Mistress Russell".

Margaret Radcliffe, a Maid of Honour who is a knight's daughter, should be called Mistress Margaret or Mistress Radcliffe, But not Lady Margaret (a Household office does not confer a title).

George Paulet, the Marquis of Winchester's second son, is Lord George or Master Paulet (but this sort of familiarity may be insulting) but never Lord Paulet.

Elizabeth Cecil, Baron Burghley's daughter, is Mistress Elizabeth, or Mistress Cecil but neither Lady Elizabeth or Lady Cecil.

References:

Ren Faire http://www.renfaire.com/Language/index.html ,
A Compendium of common knowledge http://renaissance.dm.net/compendium/