Читать книгу The Astrologer's Daughter - Paula Marshall - Страница 5

In the seventeenth century, when the action of this novel takes place, the English language was undergoing a period of great change. Until then all women, whether married or single, were called mistress. But early in the century it often became shortened to miss when used to address a very young unmarried woman—but not always!

This confusion persisted until late in the following century. Thus Celia is always named as mistress, although she was unmarried, because she was over twenty and the mistress of her father’s house. The Queen’s maids of honour were, however, always called miss, and so I have named them in The Astrologer’s Daughter.

Similarly, you, your, thee, thou, and thy were interchangeable and often mixed up in the same sentence.

Again it was the eighteenth century before the present usage of you and your at all times became customary.

I have followed the fashion of 1665/66 to make the dialogue more authentic sounding.

Kit’s song on pages 10 and 11 was written by the author and is copyright to her.