Welcome to Lesson Twenty of the Latinum Institute’s Elizabethan English course. This lesson focuses on not, the fundamental particle of negation in Early Modern English (c. 1500–1700).
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “not” mean in Elizabethan English?
In Elizabethan English, “not” functions as the primary negator, though its usage differs markedly from Modern English. The period permitted double and multiple negation for emphasis (a feature stigmatized today but entirely standard then), and “not” could appear in positions that would seem archaic to modern readers. The contracted form “n’t” was emerging but remained less common than in contemporary speech.
This lesson presents fifteen examples demonstrating “not” in varied syntactic positions, followed by a genre section featuring dramatic dialogue in the Shakespearean manner. The interlinear format provides word-by-word glossing with period-accurate IPA pronunciation, reflecting the phonological system of late sixteenth-century London English.
Key Takeaways: -
“Not” served as the principal negator but worked alongside “ne,” “no,” “nor,” and “never” in emphatic constructions -
Multiple negation was standard and grammatical, intensifying rather than canceling negation -
Word order with “not” was more flexible than in Modern English -
The pronunciation /nɒt/ (with a short open “o”) persisted throughout the period -
“Not” frequently appeared without auxiliary “do” in questions and negations
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Elizabethan pronunciation differed substantially from both Middle English and Modern English. Key features for this lesson:
The suffix “-tion” was pronounced /tjɔn/ or /sjɔn/, not modern /ʃən/. Thus “nation” was /ˈneɪ.tjɔn/.
The “r” was pronounced in all positions (rhotic accent).
The Great Vowel Shift was largely complete, but many vowels retained qualities closer to their Middle English values.
Long “a” in words like “name” was pronounced /ɛː/ or /eː/, not modern /eɪ/.
The “k” in “knight” and “know” was still sometimes pronounced, though fading.
Short “o” in “not,” “God,” “stock” was /ɒ/, an open back rounded vowel.
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20.1a I know not what thou meanest by these words.
20.1b I /aɪ/ I know /nɔː/ know not /nɒt/ NEG what /ʍɒt/ what thou /ðaʊ/ thou-2SG.NOM meanest /ˈmiː.nɪst/ mean-2SG.PRES by /baɪ/ by these /ðiːz/ these words /wɜrdz/ words
20.2a He would not suffer her to speak again.
20.2b He /hiː/ he would /wʊd/ would-COND not /nɒt/ NEG suffer /ˈsʌ.fər/ permit her /hɜr/ her-ACC to /tuː/ to-INF speak /spiːk/ speak again /ə.ˈɡeɪn/ again
20.3a ‘Tis not the fashion to weep for such losses.
20.3b ‘Tis /tɪz/ it-is-CONTR not /nɒt/ NEG the /ðə/ the fashion /ˈfa.ʃjɔn/ fashion to /tuː/ to-INF weep /wiːp/ weep for /fɔr/ for such /sʌtʃ/ such losses /ˈlɒ.sɪz/ losses
20.4a They came not unto the appointed place.
20.4b They /ðeɪ/ they came /keɪm/ come-PAST not /nɒt/ NEG unto /ˈʌn.tuː/ unto the /ðə/ the appointed /ə.ˈpɔɪn.tɪd/ appoint-PAST.PTCP place /pleɪs/ place
20.5a Not all the water in the rough rude sea can wash away the stain.
20.5b Not /nɒt/ NEG all /ɔːl/ all the /ðə/ the water /ˈwɔː.tər/ water in /ɪn/ in the /ðə/ the rough /rʌf/ rough rude /ruːd/ rude sea /siː/ sea can /kæn/ can-MOD wash /wɒʃ/ wash away /ə.ˈweɪ/ away the /ðə/ the stain /steɪn/ stain
20.6a Wilt thou not hear me speak my full defence?
20.6b Wilt /wɪlt/ will-2SG.PRES thou /ðaʊ/ thou-2SG.NOM not /nɒt/ NEG hear /hɪːr/ hear me /miː/ me-ACC speak /spiːk/ speak my /maɪ/ my full /fʊl/ full defence /dɪ.ˈfɛns/ defence
20.7a This matter toucheth not the common people.
20.7b This /ðɪs/ this matter /ˈma.tər/ matter toucheth /ˈtʌ.tʃɪθ/ touch-3SG.PRES not /nɒt/ NEG the /ðə/ the common /ˈkɒ.mən/ common people /ˈpiː.pəl/ people
20.8a She careth not a whit for thy protestations.
20.8b She /ʃiː/ she careth /ˈkɛː.rɪθ/ care-3SG.PRES not /nɒt/ NEG a /ə/ a whit /ʍɪt/ whit for /fɔr/ for thy /ðaɪ/ thy protestations /ˌprɒ.tɛs.ˈteɪ.sjɔnz/ protestations
20.9a Know you not that the king is dead these three days?
20.9b Know /nɔː/ know you /juː/ you-2PL.NOM not /nɒt/ NEG that /ðæt/ that-COMP the /ðə/ the king /kɪŋ/ king is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES dead /dɛd/ dead these /ðiːz/ these three /θriː/ three days /deɪz/ days
20.10a I would not have thee think me so unkind.
20.10b I /aɪ/ I would /wʊd/ would-COND not /nɒt/ NEG have /hæv/ have-CAUS thee /ðiː/ thee-2SG.ACC think /θɪŋk/ think me /miː/ me-ACC so /sɔː/ so unkind /ʌn.ˈkaɪnd/ unkind
20.11a The remedy lies not in physic but in prayer.
20.11b The /ðə/ the remedy /ˈrɛ.mɪ.diː/ remedy lies /laɪz/ lie-3SG.PRES not /nɒt/ NEG in /ɪn/ in physic /ˈfɪ.zɪk/ medicine but /bʌt/ but in /ɪn/ in prayer /preɪ.ər/ prayer
20.12a Fear not, for heaven doth protect the innocent.
20.12b Fear /fɪːr/ fear not /nɒt/ NEG for /fɔr/ for heaven /ˈhɛ.vən/ heaven doth /dʌθ/ do-3SG.PRES protect /prɔ.ˈtɛkt/ protect the /ðə/ the innocent /ˈɪ.nɔ.sɛnt/ innocent
20.13a Whether he liveth or not, none can truly say.
20.13b Whether /ˈʍɛ.ðər/ whether he /hiː/ he liveth /ˈlɪ.vɪθ/ live-3SG.PRES or /ɔːr/ or not /nɒt/ NEG none /nʌn/ none can /kæn/ can-MOD truly /ˈtruː.liː/ truly say /seɪ/ say
20.14a There is not gold enough in all the realm to purchase peace.
20.14b There /ðɛːr/ there-EXIST is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES not /nɒt/ NEG gold /ɡɔːld/ gold enough /ɪ.ˈnʌf/ enough in /ɪn/ in all /ɔːl/ all the /ðə/ the realm /rɛlm/ realm to /tuː/ to-INF purchase /ˈpɜr.tʃəs/ purchase peace /piːs/ peace
20.15a Not for a thousand crowns would I betray my sovereign lord.
20.15b Not /nɒt/ NEG for /fɔr/ for a /ə/ a thousand /ˈθaʊ.zənd/ thousand crowns /kraʊnz/ crowns would /wʊd/ would-COND I /aɪ/ I betray /bɪ.ˈtreɪ/ betray my /maɪ/ my sovereign /ˈsɒv.rɪn/ sovereign lord /lɔːrd/ lord
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20.1 I know not what thou meanest by these words. “I do not know what you mean by these words.”
20.2 He would not suffer her to speak again. “He would not permit her to speak again.”
20.3 ‘Tis not the fashion to weep for such losses. “It is not the custom to weep for such losses.”
20.4 They came not unto the appointed place. “They did not come to the appointed place.”
20.5 Not all the water in the rough rude sea can wash away the stain. “Not all the water in the rough, violent sea can wash away the stain.”
20.6 Wilt thou not hear me speak my full defence? “Will you not hear me speak my complete defence?”
20.7 This matter toucheth not the common people. “This matter does not concern the common people.”
20.8 She careth not a whit for thy protestations. “She does not care at all for your protestations.”
20.9 Know you not that the king is dead these three days? “Do you not know that the king has been dead for three days?”
20.10 I would not have thee think me so unkind. “I would not want you to think me so unkind.”
20.11 The remedy lies not in physic but in prayer. “The remedy lies not in medicine but in prayer.”
20.12 Fear not, for heaven doth protect the innocent. “Do not fear, for heaven protects the innocent.”
20.13 Whether he liveth or not, none can truly say. “Whether he lives or not, no one can truly say.”
20.14 There is not gold enough in all the realm to purchase peace. “There is not enough gold in all the kingdom to buy peace.”
20.15 Not for a thousand crowns would I betray my sovereign lord. “Not for a thousand crowns would I betray my sovereign lord.”
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20.1 I know not what thou meanest by these words.
20.2 He would not suffer her to speak again.
20.3 ‘Tis not the fashion to weep for such losses.
20.4 They came not unto the appointed place.
20.5 Not all the water in the rough rude sea can wash away the stain.
20.6 Wilt thou not hear me speak my full defence?
20.7 This matter toucheth not the common people.
20.8 She careth not a whit for thy protestations.
20.9 Know you not that the king is dead these three days?
20.10 I would not have thee think me so unkind.
20.11 The remedy lies not in physic but in prayer.
20.12 Fear not, for heaven doth protect the innocent.
20.13 Whether he liveth or not, none can truly say.
20.14 There is not gold enough in all the realm to purchase peace.
20.15 Not for a thousand crowns would I betray my sovereign lord.
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These are the grammar rules for “not” in Elizabethan English:
Basic Function and Position
In Elizabethan English, “not” serves as the primary adverb of negation. Its syntactic behavior differs from Modern English in several crucial respects. Most notably, “not” regularly appears immediately after the main verb without the support of auxiliary “do”: “I know not” rather than “I do not know.” This pattern, inherited from Middle English, remained the dominant construction throughout Shakespeare’s lifetime.
Negation Without “Do”
The “do”-support system that modern English speakers rely upon was only partially developed in the Elizabethan period. Writers freely alternated between “I know not” and “I do not know,” with the older pattern (without “do”) often preferred in elevated or poetic registers. In questions, one could say either “Know you not?” or “Do you not know?” Both were grammatical and common.
Position After Auxiliaries
When modal auxiliaries appear (would, could, should, can, may, might, will, shall), “not” follows the auxiliary: “He would not speak,” “They cannot come.” This pattern matches Modern English usage.
Sentence-Initial “Not”
“Not” could begin sentences for emphatic effect, particularly in constructions meaning “not even”: “Not all the perfumes of Arabia” or “Not for a thousand crowns.” This fronting created strong rhetorical emphasis.
Multiple Negation
Unlike Modern English, where double negatives are stigmatized, Elizabethan English employed multiple negation to intensify the negative meaning. “I never did see no such thing” meant emphatically “I never saw such a thing”—the negatives reinforced rather than canceled each other. This feature appears throughout Shakespeare and is entirely grammatical for the period.
“Not” with Imperatives
Negative commands could use either “not” alone or “do not”: “Fear not” and “Do not fear” both occurred. The form without “do” often carried greater rhetorical force.
Contractions
The contracted forms “don’t,” “won’t,” “can’t” existed but were less common in written discourse than they would later become. Writers often spelled out “do not,” “will not,” “cannot” even in dialogue.
Common Mistakes for Modern Learners
Inserting “do” where Elizabethan English omits it: Modern speakers want to write “I do not know” where “I know not” would be more period-appropriate, especially in formal or poetic contexts.
Treating double negatives as errors: Multiple negation was standard grammar, not a mistake to be corrected.
Regularizing word order: The flexibility of “not” placement (after main verbs, not just after auxiliaries) often surprises modern readers.
Grammatical Summary
Affirmative to Negative Transformations:
“He speaks” → “He speaks not” or “He doth not speak”
“They came” → “They came not” or “They did not come”
“I know” → “I know not” or “I do not know”
“She loveth him” → “She loveth him not” or “She doth not love him”
Negative Questions:
“Speaks he not?” or “Doth he not speak?”
“Came they not?” or “Did they not come?”
“Knowest thou not?” or “Dost thou not know?”
Emphatic Negation with Multiple Elements:
“I never saw no such creature” — intensified negation
“Nor would I not have thee believe” — double negative for emphasis
“Not none of them came” — triple negative (rare but attested)
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Rhetorical Force of Negation
In Elizabethan discourse, negation carried considerable rhetorical weight. The very act of denying something called attention to it—a principle exploited by writers throughout the period. When Hamlet claims he “knows not seems,” the negation emphasizes the contrast between appearance and reality that structures the entire play. Negation in Early Modern English is rarely merely grammatical; it is dramatic.
Religious and Legal Contexts
Negation figured prominently in religious and legal language. Oaths often included “not” to define prohibited actions: “Thou shalt not kill,” “I do protest I am not guilty.” The Book of Common Prayer and legal formulae of the period relied heavily on carefully constructed negative statements. The rhythm of liturgical negation influenced even secular writing.
“Not” in Courtesy and Address
Polite discourse often employed negation for modesty or deference. To say “I would not trouble you” or “I know not if I might presume” softened requests and showed awareness of social hierarchy. The phrase “Not so” served as a polite contradiction, less blunt than a direct “No.”
Stage Negation
On the Elizabethan stage, negative constructions often signaled crucial dramatic moments. A character’s use of “not” might reveal inner conflict, denial, or deception. Iago’s “I am not what I am” inverts normal assertion to suggest duplicity. Richard III’s “Was ever woman in this humour woo’d? / Was ever woman in this humour won?” uses negative expectation to frame his monstrous success.
Regional and Social Variation
While the literary language shows consistent patterns, regional dialects varied in their treatment of negation. Northern dialects retained older forms, while London speech was innovating toward what would become modern usage. Social class also influenced usage: the “do”-supported negative was spreading first among urban middle classes, while older patterns persisted in rural areas and in deliberately archaic literary styles.
Idiomatic Expressions
“Not a whit” — not at all (a whit being the smallest possible amount)
“Not for the world” — under no circumstances
“Say not so” — a polite contradiction or expression of disbelief
“Fear not” / “Doubt not” — common reassurances
“I know not what” — something indefinable or surprising
“Not so much as” — not even (emphatic minimal negation)
“Care not a fig” — to be completely indifferent
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From William Shakespeare’s Richard II (c. 1595), Act III, Scene 2
This passage demonstrates the emphatic use of “not” in a speech where King Richard contemplates his fall from power. The negation structures the entire argument—what cannot help, what cannot save—building to a meditation on the mortality that spares not even kings.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
F.1a Not all the water in the rough rude sea
F.1b Not /nɒt/ NEG all /ɔːl/ all the /ðə/ the water /ˈwɔː.tər/ water in /ɪn/ in the /ðə/ the rough /rʌf/ rough rude /ruːd/ rude sea /siː/ sea
F.2a Can wash the balm off from an anointed king.
F.2b Can /kæn/ can-MOD wash /wɒʃ/ wash the /ðə/ the balm /bɑːm/ holy-oil off /ɒf/ off from /frʌm/ from an /ən/ an anointed /ə.ˈnɔɪn.tɪd/ anoint-PAST.PTCP king /kɪŋ/ king
F.3a The breath of worldly men cannot depose
F.3b The /ðə/ the breath /brɛθ/ breath of /ɒv/ of worldly /ˈwɜːld.liː/ worldly men /mɛn/ men cannot /kæn.ˈnɒt/ can-NEG depose /dɪ.ˈpɔːz/ depose
F.4a The deputy elected by the Lord.
F.4b The /ðə/ the deputy /ˈdɛ.pjʊ.tiː/ deputy elected /ɪ.ˈlɛk.tɪd/ elect-PAST.PTCP by /baɪ/ by the /ðə/ the Lord /lɔːrd/ Lord
F.5a For every man that Bolingbroke hath press’d
F.5b For /fɔːr/ for every /ˈɛv.riː/ every man /mæn/ man that /ðæt/ that-REL Bolingbroke /ˈbɒ.lɪŋ.brʊk/ Bolingbroke hath /hæθ/ have-3SG.PRES press’d /prɛst/ press-PAST.PTCP
F.6a To lift shrewd steel against our golden crown,
F.6b To /tuː/ to-INF lift /lɪft/ lift shrewd /ʃruːd/ sharp steel /stiːl/ steel against /ə.ˈɡɛnst/ against our /aʊ.ər/ our golden /ˈɡɔːl.dən/ golden crown /kraʊn/ crown
F.7a God for his Richard hath in heavenly pay
F.7b God /ɡɒd/ God for /fɔːr/ for his /hɪz/ his Richard /ˈrɪ.tʃərd/ Richard hath /hæθ/ have-3SG.PRES in /ɪn/ in heavenly /ˈhɛ.vən.liː/ heavenly pay /peɪ/ pay
F.8a A glorious angel; then if angels fight,
F.8b A /ə/ a glorious /ˈɡlɔː.rjəs/ glorious angel /ˈeɪn.dʒəl/ angel then /ðɛn/ then if /ɪf/ if angels /ˈeɪn.dʒəlz/ angels fight /faɪt/ fight
F.9a Weak men must fall, for heaven still guards the right.
F.9b Weak /wiːk/ weak men /mɛn/ men must /mʌst/ must-MOD fall /fɔːl/ fall for /fɔːr/ for heaven /ˈhɛ.vən/ heaven still /stɪl/ still guards /ɡɑːrdz/ guard-3SG.PRES the /ðə/ the right /raɪt/ right
F-B: Natural Sentence with Translation
Not all the water in the rough rude sea Can wash the balm off from an anointed king. The breath of worldly men cannot depose The deputy elected by the Lord. For every man that Bolingbroke hath press’d To lift shrewd steel against our golden crown, God for his Richard hath in heavenly pay A glorious angel; then if angels fight, Weak men must fall, for heaven still guards the right.
“Not all the water in the rough, violent sea can wash the holy oil from an anointed king. The mere words of worldly men cannot depose God’s chosen deputy. For every man that Bolingbroke has conscripted to raise sharp blades against our golden crown, God has in heaven’s service—fighting for his Richard—a glorious angel; therefore if angels fight, weak men must fall, for heaven always protects the righteous.”
F-C: Original Text Only
Not all the water in the rough rude sea Can wash the balm off from an anointed king. The breath of worldly men cannot depose The deputy elected by the Lord. For every man that Bolingbroke hath press’d To lift shrewd steel against our golden crown, God for his Richard hath in heavenly pay A glorious angel; then if angels fight, Weak men must fall, for heaven still guards the right.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
The passage opens with sentence-initial “Not” in the emphatic construction “Not all X can...” This pattern emphasizes the impossibility of the action—even the totality of the sea’s waters cannot accomplish the washing. The word “cannot” in line 3 represents the fused form (can + not), standard in the period.
“Balm” refers to the holy oil used in coronation ceremonies. “Shrewd” here means “sharp” or “biting,” its primary Elizabethan meaning before the modern sense of “clever” dominated.
Note “hath press’d”—the auxiliary “hath” with past participle, equivalent to modern “has pressed.” The verb “press” means to conscript soldiers by force (related to “impressment”).
Richard’s confidence in divine protection will prove tragically misplaced—the very certainty expressed through these negations makes his subsequent fall more devastating. This is dramatic irony achieved through grammar.
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A Scene of Accusation: wherein a Gentleman is confronted by his accuser before the assembled Court
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
20.16a LORD STANLEY: Thou standest accused of treason. How sayest thou—guilty or not guilty?
20.16b Thou /ðaʊ/ thou-2SG.NOM standest /ˈstæn.dɪst/ stand-2SG.PRES accused /ə.ˈkjuːzd/ accuse-PAST.PTCP of /ɒv/ of treason /ˈtriː.zən/ treason How /haʊ/ how sayest /ˈseɪ.ɪst/ say-2SG.PRES thou /ðaʊ/ thou-2SG.NOM guilty /ˈɡɪl.tiː/ guilty or /ɔːr/ or not /nɒt/ NEG guilty /ˈɡɪl.tiː/ guilty
20.17a SIR EDWARD: My lord, I am not guilty of this charge.
20.17b My /maɪ/ my lord /lɔːrd/ lord I /aɪ/ I am /æm/ be-1SG.PRES not /nɒt/ NEG guilty /ˈɡɪl.tiː/ guilty of /ɒv/ of this /ðɪs/ this charge /tʃɑːrdʒ/ charge
20.18a LORD STANLEY: Not guilty, sayest thou? Yet witnesses have spoken against thee.
20.18b Not /nɒt/ NEG guilty /ˈɡɪl.tiː/ guilty sayest /ˈseɪ.ɪst/ say-2SG.PRES thou /ðaʊ/ thou-2SG.NOM Yet /jɛt/ yet witnesses /ˈwɪt.nɪ.sɪz/ witnesses have /hæv/ have-AUX spoken /ˈspɔː.kən/ speak-PAST.PTCP against /ə.ˈɡɛnst/ against thee /ðiː/ thee-2SG.ACC
20.19a SIR EDWARD: Their words are not to be believed, for they speak from malice.
20.19b Their /ðɛːr/ their words /wɜːrdz/ words are /ɑːr/ be-3PL.PRES not /nɒt/ NEG to /tuː/ to-INF be /biː/ be believed /bɪ.ˈliːvd/ believe-PAST.PTCP for /fɔːr/ for they /ðeɪ/ they speak /spiːk/ speak from /frʌm/ from malice /ˈmæ.lɪs/ malice
20.20a LORD STANLEY: Malice or not, the evidence standeth clear against thee.
20.20b Malice /ˈmæ.lɪs/ malice or /ɔːr/ or not /nɒt/ NEG the /ðə/ the evidence /ˈɛ.vɪ.dəns/ evidence standeth /ˈstæn.dɪθ/ stand-3SG.PRES clear /klɪːr/ clear against /ə.ˈɡɛnst/ against thee /ðiː/ thee-2SG.ACC
20.21a SIR EDWARD: I deny it utterly. I did not conspire against his majesty.
20.21b I /aɪ/ I deny /dɪ.ˈnaɪ/ deny it /ɪt/ it utterly /ˈʌ.tər.liː/ utterly I /aɪ/ I did /dɪd/ do-PAST not /nɒt/ NEG conspire /kən.ˈspaɪ.ər/ conspire against /ə.ˈɡɛnst/ against his /hɪz/ his majesty /ˈmæ.dʒɪs.tiː/ majesty
20.22a LORD STANLEY: Didst thou not write unto the Earl of March these treasonous letters?
20.22b Didst /dɪdst/ do-2SG.PAST thou /ðaʊ/ thou-2SG.NOM not /nɒt/ NEG write /raɪt/ write unto /ˈʌn.tuː/ unto the /ðə/ the Earl /ɜːrl/ Earl of /ɒv/ of March /mɑːrtʃ/ March these /ðiːz/ these treasonous /ˈtriː.zə.nəs/ treasonous letters /ˈlɛ.tərz/ letters
20.23a SIR EDWARD: I wrote not any such letters, my lord.
20.23b I /aɪ/ I wrote /rɔːt/ write-PAST not /nɒt/ NEG any /ˈɛ.niː/ any such /sʌtʃ/ such letters /ˈlɛ.tərz/ letters my /maɪ/ my lord /lɔːrd/ lord
20.24a LORD STANLEY: Here is the hand that wrote them. Know you it not?
20.24b Here /hɪːr/ here is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES the /ðə/ the hand /hænd/ handwriting that /ðæt/ that-REL wrote /rɔːt/ write-PAST them /ðɛm/ them Know /nɔː/ know you /juː/ you it /ɪt/ it not /nɒt/ NEG
20.25a SIR EDWARD: This is not my hand. Some villain hath forged it.
20.25b This /ðɪs/ this is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES not /nɒt/ NEG my /maɪ/ my hand /hænd/ handwriting Some /sʌm/ some villain /ˈvɪ.lən/ villain hath /hæθ/ have-3SG.PRES forged /fɔːrdʒd/ forge-PAST.PTCP it /ɪt/ it
20.26a LORD STANLEY: Thy secretary sweareth it is thine own hand and no other.
20.26b Thy /ðaɪ/ thy secretary /ˈsɛ.krɪ.tə.riː/ secretary sweareth /ˈswɛː.rɪθ/ swear-3SG.PRES it /ɪt/ it is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES thine /ðaɪn/ thine own /ɔːn/ own hand /hænd/ handwriting and /ænd/ and no /nɔː/ no other /ˈʌ.ðər/ other
20.27a SIR EDWARD: He is not to be trusted! He beareth a grudge against me these many years.
20.27b He /hiː/ he is /ɪz/ be-3SG.PRES not /nɒt/ NEG to /tuː/ to-INF be /biː/ be trusted /ˈtrʌs.tɪd/ trust-PAST.PTCP He /hiː/ he beareth /ˈbɛː.rɪθ/ bear-3SG.PRES a /ə/ a grudge /ɡrʌdʒ/ grudge against /ə.ˈɡɛnst/ against me /miː/ me these /ðiːz/ these many /ˈmɛ.niː/ many years /jɪːrz/ years
20.28a LORD STANLEY: Whether this be true or not, we shall discover.
20.28b Whether /ˈʍɛ.ðər/ whether this /ðɪs/ this be /biː/ be-SUBJ true /truː/ true or /ɔːr/ or not /nɒt/ NEG we /wiː/ we shall /ʃæl/ shall-FUT discover /dɪs.ˈkʌ.vər/ discover
20.29a SIR EDWARD: I ask not for mercy, but for justice. I am innocent.
20.29b I /aɪ/ I ask /ɑːsk/ ask not /nɒt/ NEG for /fɔːr/ for mercy /ˈmɜːr.siː/ mercy but /bʌt/ but for /fɔːr/ for justice /ˈdʒʌs.tɪs/ justice I /aɪ/ I am /æm/ be-1SG.PRES innocent /ˈɪ.nɔ.sɛnt/ innocent
20.30a LORD STANLEY: Then fear not, for if thou art innocent, no harm shall come to thee.
20.30b Then /ðɛn/ then fear /fɪːr/ fear not /nɒt/ NEG for /fɔːr/ for if /ɪf/ if thou /ðaʊ/ thou-2SG.NOM art /ɑːrt/ be-2SG.PRES innocent /ˈɪ.nɔ.sɛnt/ innocent no /nɔː/ no harm /hɑːrm/ harm shall /ʃæl/ shall-FUT come /kʌm/ come to /tuː/ to thee /ðiː/ thee-2SG.ACC
Part B: Natural Sentences
20.16 LORD STANLEY: Thou standest accused of treason. How sayest thou—guilty or not guilty? “LORD STANLEY: You stand accused of treason. How do you plead—guilty or not guilty?”
20.17 SIR EDWARD: My lord, I am not guilty of this charge. “SIR EDWARD: My lord, I am not guilty of this charge.”
20.18 LORD STANLEY: Not guilty, sayest thou? Yet witnesses have spoken against thee. “LORD STANLEY: Not guilty, you say? Yet witnesses have testified against you.”
20.19 SIR EDWARD: Their words are not to be believed, for they speak from malice. “SIR EDWARD: Their words should not be believed, for they speak out of malice.”
20.20 LORD STANLEY: Malice or not, the evidence standeth clear against thee. “LORD STANLEY: Malice or not, the evidence stands clearly against you.”
20.21 SIR EDWARD: I deny it utterly. I did not conspire against his majesty. “SIR EDWARD: I deny it completely. I did not conspire against his majesty.”
20.22 LORD STANLEY: Didst thou not write unto the Earl of March these treasonous letters? “LORD STANLEY: Did you not write these treasonous letters to the Earl of March?”
20.23 SIR EDWARD: I wrote not any such letters, my lord. “SIR EDWARD: I did not write any such letters, my lord.”
20.24 LORD STANLEY: Here is the hand that wrote them. Know you it not? “LORD STANLEY: Here is the handwriting that wrote them. Do you not recognize it?”
20.25 SIR EDWARD: This is not my hand. Some villain hath forged it. “SIR EDWARD: This is not my handwriting. Some villain has forged it.”
20.26 LORD STANLEY: Thy secretary sweareth it is thine own hand and no other. “LORD STANLEY: Your secretary swears it is your own handwriting and no one else’s.”
20.27 SIR EDWARD: He is not to be trusted! He beareth a grudge against me these many years. “SIR EDWARD: He is not to be trusted! He has borne a grudge against me for many years.”
20.28 LORD STANLEY: Whether this be true or not, we shall discover. “LORD STANLEY: Whether this is true or not, we shall discover.”
20.29 SIR EDWARD: I ask not for mercy, but for justice. I am innocent. “SIR EDWARD: I ask not for mercy, but for justice. I am innocent.”
20.30 LORD STANLEY: Then fear not, for if thou art innocent, no harm shall come to thee. “LORD STANLEY: Then do not fear, for if you are innocent, no harm shall come to you.”
Part C: Elizabethan Text Only
20.16 LORD STANLEY: Thou standest accused of treason. How sayest thou—guilty or not guilty?
20.17 SIR EDWARD: My lord, I am not guilty of this charge.
20.18 LORD STANLEY: Not guilty, sayest thou? Yet witnesses have spoken against thee.
20.19 SIR EDWARD: Their words are not to be believed, for they speak from malice.
20.20 LORD STANLEY: Malice or not, the evidence standeth clear against thee.
20.21 SIR EDWARD: I deny it utterly. I did not conspire against his majesty.
20.22 LORD STANLEY: Didst thou not write unto the Earl of March these treasonous letters?
20.23 SIR EDWARD: I wrote not any such letters, my lord.
20.24 LORD STANLEY: Here is the hand that wrote them. Know you it not?
20.25 SIR EDWARD: This is not my hand. Some villain hath forged it.
20.26 LORD STANLEY: Thy secretary sweareth it is thine own hand and no other.
20.27 SIR EDWARD: He is not to be trusted! He beareth a grudge against me these many years.
20.28 LORD STANLEY: Whether this be true or not, we shall discover.
20.29 SIR EDWARD: I ask not for mercy, but for justice. I am innocent.
20.30 LORD STANLEY: Then fear not, for if thou art innocent, no harm shall come to thee.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This dramatic dialogue illustrates the full range of negation patterns available in Elizabethan English. Note the following features:
Questions with and without “do”: Both “Know you it not?” (20.24) and “Didst thou not write?” (20.22) appear. The first maintains the older verb-first pattern; the second uses “do”-support but with the past tense “didst.”
“Not guilty” as fixed phrase: The legal formula “guilty or not guilty” (20.16) shows “not” in its adjectival-negating function, a pattern that survives into legal English today.
Negative infinitives: “Not to be believed” (20.19) and “not to be trusted” (20.27) place “not” before the infinitive, the standard Elizabethan position (contrasting with modern split infinitive debates).
“Whether...or not” construction: In 20.28, “whether this be true or not” shows the subjunctive “be” in a clause of uncertainty, with “or not” providing the alternative.
Emphatic “I wrote not”: Rather than “I did not write,” Sir Edward uses the more direct “I wrote not” (20.23), placing the negation immediately after the main verb for rhetorical force in his denial.
“No” + noun for absolute negation: “No harm shall come” (20.30) uses “no” to negate the noun directly, a pattern parallel to but distinct from “not any harm.”
The dialogue also demonstrates the dramatic function of negation—the scene revolves entirely around denial, accusation, and the contested boundary between truth and falsehood.
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Key Pronunciations for This Lesson
not /nɒt/ — The vowel is the open back rounded vowel, similar to the “o” in modern British “lot.” Elizabethan speakers would have used this same quality.
-tion suffix /tjɔn/ or /sjɔn/ — This is crucial for period authenticity. Words like “nation” were /ˈneɪ.tjɔn/, “protestation” was /ˌprɒ.tɛs.ˈteɪ.sjɔn/. The modern pronunciation /ʃən/ developed later.
-eth endings /ɪθ/ — The third person singular ending “speaketh,” “careth,” “toucheth” was pronounced as a full syllable: /ˈspiː.kɪθ/, /ˈkɛː.rɪθ/, /ˈtʌ.tʃɪθ/.
thou, thee, thy, thine — /ðaʊ/, /ðiː/, /ðaɪ/, /ðaɪn/ — All with voiced “th” as in modern “the.”
wh- words /ʍ/ — “What,” “whether,” “whit” began with a voiceless labio-velar fricative, distinct from /w/. This “hw” sound persists in some modern dialects.
r in all positions — Elizabethan English was fully rhotic. The “r” in “lord,” “fear,” “sword” was pronounced clearly.
Common Pronunciation Errors for Modern Speakers
Reducing “-tion” to /ʃən/ — maintain the /tjɔn/ quality
Dropping final /r/ sounds — keep them audible
Pronouncing “wh-” as plain /w/ — distinguish /ʍ/ from /w/
Swallowing “-eth” endings — give them their full syllable
Audio Reference Suggestions
For authentic period pronunciation, seek recordings from historical pronunciation projects such as those by David Crystal (Shakespeare’s Original Pronunciation) or the work done at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre using reconstructed accent.
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The Latinum Institute has been creating language learning materials since 2006, serving autodidact learners who wish to acquire languages through careful, methodical study. Our approach uses interlinear construed text—a technique with roots in Renaissance pedagogy—to make complex grammatical structures transparent to the independent learner.
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The Elizabethan English course applies this proven methodology to the language of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Spenser, and the King James Bible. By working through frequency-ordered vocabulary with detailed grammatical glossing and period-accurate pronunciation, learners develop genuine reading fluency in Early Modern English texts.
The interlinear format breaks each sentence into its component words, providing grammatical information (case, tense, person) alongside English glosses. This granular approach allows learners to see exactly how Elizabethan English grammar functions, building the pattern recognition necessary for independent reading.
Benefits of the Construed Text Approach:
The word-by-word breakdown reveals grammatical relationships that prose translations obscure
Learners see authentic word order rather than anglicized rearrangements
Grammatical markers (PAST, GEN, 3SG, etc.) build explicit awareness of inflection
Repetition across examples reinforces vocabulary and structures
The progression from construed to natural to target-only text scaffolds comprehension
Why Study Elizabethan English?
Shakespeare’s works remain central to English literary culture, but their language presents genuine difficulties for modern readers. The vocabulary has shifted; the grammar operates by different rules; the pronunciation was markedly different. This course treats Elizabethan English as what it functionally is—a related but distinct language variety requiring systematic study rather than mere guesswork.
Whether you aim to read Shakespeare’s plays with full comprehension, explore the King James Bible in its original linguistic context, or simply understand the roots of modern English more deeply, this course provides the tools for genuine mastery.
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✓ Lesson 020 Elizabethan English complete
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