Welcome to Lesson 69 of the Elizabethan English course. This lesson explores most, one of the most versatile words in Early Modern English, functioning as both a superlative determiner expressing majority or highest degree, and as an intensifying adverb meaning “very” or “exceedingly.”
Course Index:
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FAQ: What does “most” mean in Elizabethan English?
In Shakespeare’s English, most retained functions largely familiar to modern speakers but with several distinctive usages now archaic. As a determiner, it indicated the greatest quantity or number (”most men believe...”). As an adverb, it served as an intensifier equivalent to “very” or “extremely” (”most fair,” “most foul”), a usage that survives today only in formal registers. The word also formed superlatives with adjectives of two or more syllables (”most beautiful”) rather than using the suffix -est.
The fifteen examples in this lesson demonstrate most in contexts typical of Elizabethan drama, poetry, and prose, showcasing its grammatical flexibility across superlative and intensive functions.
Key Takeaways: -
Most as intensifier meaning “very” was far more common in Elizabethan English than today -
The pronunciation featured a long close-mid back vowel /oː/, not yet raised to modern /əʊ/ -
Most frequently preceded adjectives in elaborate courtly compliments -
The determiner function (”most people”) closely parallels modern usage -
Understanding most unlocks Shakespearean rhetoric of extremity and superlative praise
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This course employs Original Pronunciation (OP), the reconstructed phonology of Early Modern English based on the scholarship of David Crystal and others. Key features affecting this lesson:
The word “most”: Pronounced /moːst/ with a long monophthong, not the modern diphthong /məʊst/. The vowel quality resembled Scottish English “boat” today.
The -tion suffix: Crucially, words ending in -tion and -sion were pronounced /sɪən/ or /sjən/, not modern /ʃən/. Thus “nation” was /ˈneːsɪən/, “affection” was /əˈfeksɪən/.
The STRUT vowel: Words like “love,” “come,” and “much” still had /ʊ/ (as in “put”), not yet shifted to /ʌ/. So “much” was /mʊtʃ/.
R-sounds: English was still fully rhotic; all written r‘s were pronounced.
The Great Vowel Shift: Still in progress; long vowels had not reached their modern values.
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69.1a Thou art the most beauteous creature in this realm.
69.1b Thou /ðuː/ thou art /art/ art the /ðə/ the most /moːst/ most beauteous /ˈbjuːtɪəs/ beautiful creature /ˈkriːtjʊr/ creature in /ɪn/ in this /ðɪs/ this realm /rɛːlm/ realm
69.2a Most noble lords, I beseech your patience.
69.2b Most /moːst/ most-INTENS noble /ˈnoːbl/ noble lords /lɔːrdz/ lords I /ɪː/ I beseech /bɪˈsiːtʃ/ beseech your /jʊːr/ your patience /ˈpeːsɪəns/ patience
69.3a Of most men living, he hath the truest heart.
69.3b Of /ɒv/ of most /moːst/ most-SUPERL men /mɛn/ men living /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ living he /heː/ he hath /haθ/ hath the /ðə/ the truest /ˈtrʊːəst/ truest heart /hart/ heart
69.4a This is most strange and wondrous news.
69.4b This /ðɪs/ this is /ɪz/ is most /moːst/ most-INTENS strange /streːndʒ/ strange and /and/ and wondrous /ˈwʊndrəs/ wondrous news /njuːz/ news
69.5a She spake most sweetly of her absent love.
69.5b She /ʃeː/ she spake /speːk/ spoke-PAST most /moːst/ most-INTENS sweetly /ˈswiːtlɪ/ sweetly of /ɒv/ of her /hɛr/ her absent /ˈabsənt/ absent love /lʊv/ love
69.6a The court doth hold most of his loyal servants in high regard.
69.6b The /ðə/ the court /kɔːrt/ court doth /dʊθ/ doth hold /hoːld/ hold most /moːst/ most-QUANT of /ɒv/ of his /hɪz/ his loyal /ˈlɔɪəl/ loyal servants /ˈsɛrvənts/ servants in /ɪn/ in high /hiː/ high regard /rɪˈgard/ regard
69.7a It grieveth me most deeply to bring such tidings.
69.7b It /ɪt/ it grieveth /ˈgriːvəθ/ grieves-3SG me /meː/ me most /moːst/ most-INTENS deeply /ˈdiːplɪ/ deeply to /tʊː/ to bring /brɪŋ/ bring such /sʊtʃ/ such tidings /ˈtɪːdɪŋz/ tidings
69.8a Most gracious sovereign, thy humble subject kneeleth before thee.
69.8b Most /moːst/ most-INTENS gracious /ˈgreːsɪəs/ gracious sovereign /ˈsɒvrən/ sovereign thy /ðɪː/ thy humble /ˈʊmbl/ humble subject /ˈsʊbdʒɛkt/ subject kneeleth /ˈkniːləθ/ kneels-3SG before /bɪˈfɔːr/ before thee /ðiː/ thee
69.9a He is the most valiant captain our army hath ever known.
69.9b He /heː/ he is /ɪz/ is the /ðə/ the most /moːst/ most-SUPERL valiant /ˈvalɪənt/ valiant captain /ˈkaptən/ captain our /ʊːr/ our army /ˈarmɪ/ army hath /haθ/ hath ever /ˈɛvər/ ever known /noːn/ known
69.10a What most afflicteth thy troubled conscience?
69.10b What /ʍat/ what most /moːst/ most-INTENS afflicteth /əˈflɪktəθ/ afflicts-3SG thy /ðɪː/ thy troubled /ˈtrʊbld/ troubled conscience /ˈkɒnsɪəns/ conscience
69.11a The king hath rewarded most handsomely those who served him well.
69.11b The /ðə/ the king /kɪŋ/ king hath /haθ/ hath rewarded /rɪˈwɔːrdɪd/ rewarded most /moːst/ most-INTENS handsomely /ˈhandsʊmlɪ/ handsomely those /ðoːz/ those who /ʍuː/ who served /sɛrvd/ served him /hɪm/ him well /wɛl/ well
69.12a In most nations, such treachery would merit death.
69.12b In /ɪn/ in most /moːst/ most-QUANT nations /ˈneːsɪənz/ nations such /sʊtʃ/ such treachery /ˈtrɛtʃərɪ/ treachery would /wʊːld/ would merit /ˈmɛrɪt/ merit death /dɛθ/ death
69.13a Methinks this potion hath a most curious effect upon the senses.
69.13b Methinks /mɪˈθɪŋks/ methinks this /ðɪs/ this potion /ˈpoːsɪən/ potion hath /haθ/ hath a /a/ a most /moːst/ most-INTENS curious /ˈkjʊːrɪəs/ curious effect /ɪˈfɛkt/ effect upon /əˈpɒn/ upon the /ðə/ the senses /ˈsɛnsɪz/ senses
69.14a Most villains cloak their malice in fair words.
69.14b Most /moːst/ most-QUANT villains /ˈvɪlənz/ villains cloak /kloːk/ cloak their /ðɛːr/ their malice /ˈmalɪs/ malice in /ɪn/ in fair /fɛːr/ fair words /wʊrdz/ words
69.15a The lady is most cruelly wronged by these vile accusations.
69.15b The /ðə/ the lady /ˈleːdɪ/ lady is /ɪz/ is most /moːst/ most-INTENS cruelly /ˈkrʊːəlɪ/ cruelly wronged /rɒŋd/ wronged by /bɪː/ by these /ðiːz/ these vile /vɪːl/ vile accusations /akjʊˈzeːsɪənz/ accusations
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69.1 Thou art the most beauteous creature in this realm. “You are the most beautiful creature in this kingdom.”
69.2 Most noble lords, I beseech your patience. “Most noble lords, I beg your patience.”
69.3 Of most men living, he hath the truest heart. “Of most men alive, he has the truest heart.”
69.4 This is most strange and wondrous news. “This is very strange and wondrous news.”
69.5 She spake most sweetly of her absent love. “She spoke very sweetly of her absent beloved.”
69.6 The court doth hold most of his loyal servants in high regard. “The court holds most of his loyal servants in high regard.”
69.7 It grieveth me most deeply to bring such tidings. “It grieves me very deeply to bring such news.”
69.8 Most gracious sovereign, thy humble subject kneeleth before thee. “Most gracious sovereign, your humble subject kneels before you.”
69.9 He is the most valiant captain our army hath ever known. “He is the most valiant captain our army has ever known.”
69.10 What most afflicteth thy troubled conscience? “What most afflicts your troubled conscience?”
69.11 The king hath rewarded most handsomely those who served him well. “The king has rewarded very handsomely those who served him well.”
69.12 In most nations, such treachery would merit death. “In most nations, such treachery would deserve death.”
69.13 Methinks this potion hath a most curious effect upon the senses. “I think this potion has a very curious effect upon the senses.”
69.14 Most villains cloak their malice in fair words. “Most villains conceal their malice in fair words.”
69.15 The lady is most cruelly wronged by these vile accusations. “The lady is very cruelly wronged by these vile accusations.”
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69.1 Thou art the most beauteous creature in this realm.
69.2 Most noble lords, I beseech your patience.
69.3 Of most men living, he hath the truest heart.
69.4 This is most strange and wondrous news.
69.5 She spake most sweetly of her absent love.
69.6 The court doth hold most of his loyal servants in high regard.
69.7 It grieveth me most deeply to bring such tidings.
69.8 Most gracious sovereign, thy humble subject kneeleth before thee.
69.9 He is the most valiant captain our army hath ever known.
69.10 What most afflicteth thy troubled conscience?
69.11 The king hath rewarded most handsomely those who served him well.
69.12 In most nations, such treachery would merit death.
69.13 Methinks this potion hath a most curious effect upon the senses.
69.14 Most villains cloak their malice in fair words.
69.15 The lady is most cruelly wronged by these vile accusations.
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These are the grammar rules for “most” in Elizabethan English:
1. Most as Superlative Marker (with adjectives)
In Elizabethan English, most forms the superlative degree of adjectives that do not take the -est suffix, particularly adjectives of two or more syllables. This analytical superlative construction parallels modern usage but was employed more liberally.
Formation: most + adjective Examples: most beauteous, most valiant, most gracious
The choice between -est (fairest) and most fair was sometimes stylistic rather than strictly grammatical. Shakespeare frequently uses both forms, even with the same adjective, for metrical or emphatic purposes.
2. Most as Intensifier (meaning “very” or “exceedingly”)
This usage is far more prevalent in Elizabethan English than in modern speech. Most functions as an adverb of degree, intensifying adjectives, adverbs, and sometimes verbs.
Adjectival intensification: “most strange,” “most noble,” “most gracious” Adverbial intensification: “most sweetly,” “most cruelly,” “most handsomely” Verbal intensification: “what most afflicteth,” “it grieveth me most deeply”
Modern English largely restricts this to formal or archaic registers (”most kind of you”), but Elizabethan speakers used it freely across all registers.
3. Most as Quantifier (majority/greatest portion)
As a determiner indicating quantity, most functions similarly to modern usage, signifying the majority of a group or the greatest portion.
With plural nouns: “most men,” “most nations,” “most villains” With partitive “of”: “most of his servants”
4. Position of Most
Intensifier most precedes the word it modifies directly: “most fair,” “most sweetly”
Quantifier most precedes the noun phrase or takes partitive “of”: “most men,” “most of the kingdom”
Superlative most requires the definite article when preceding a noun: “the most valiant captain”
Common Mistakes:
Confusing the intensifier (meaning “very”) with the quantifier (meaning “majority”). Context usually disambiguates: “most men believe” (majority) vs. “a most noble man” (very noble).
Mispronouncing the vowel as a modern diphthong /əʊ/ instead of the period monophthong /oː/.
Forgetting that -tion words rhyming with most (like “devotion”) had /oː...sɪən/, not modern /əʊ...ʃən/.
Grammatical Summary:
MOST as SUPERLATIVE: the + most + adjective (+ noun) — “the most valiant captain”
MOST as INTENSIFIER: most + adjective/adverb — “most noble,” “most sweetly”
MOST as QUANTIFIER: most + plural noun / most + of + noun phrase — “most men,” “most of us”
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Courtly Address and the Language of Degree
The intensive use of most was central to Elizabethan courtly etiquette. Addressing superiors required elaborate honorifics: “most gracious sovereign,” “most noble lord,” “most excellent majesty.” These formulas were not mere flattery but essential social protocols. Failure to employ appropriate superlatives could mark one as uncouth or even disrespectful.
The hierarchical nature of Tudor society demanded linguistic markers of degree at every turn. Most served as verbal genuflection, acknowledging the superior status of the addressee. When commoners addressed nobility, or nobility addressed royalty, most intensified every positive adjective as a linguistic performance of deference.
Most in Shakespearean Rhetoric
Shakespeare exploited most for various dramatic effects. Villains like Iago often employ excessive superlatives ironically, their “most honest” and “most noble” phrases dripping with concealed contempt. Lovers use most to express the extremity of passion: Juliet is “most fair,” Romeo “most dear.” The word becomes a marker of emotional intensity, whether sincere or feigned.
The frequency of most in formal speeches versus informal exchanges also signals register. Hamlet’s “antic disposition” includes moments where he drops courtly superlatives, using plain speech to unsettle those who expect elaborate address.
Regional and Social Variation
While most as intensifier pervaded all social strata, its density varied by context. Legal documents, parliamentary speeches, and courtly correspondence piled superlatives higher than tavern speech. The “groundlings” at the Globe would have recognized excessive most-usage as a marker of pretension, making characters like Osric in Hamlet objects of ridicule through their overwrought honorifics.
Idiomatic Expressions:
“At most” — at the maximum extent “For the most part” — generally, in most cases “Make the most of” — utilize fully “Most like” — most likely, probably
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From William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act I, Scene 2 (1600-01)
Claudius addresses the court after his hasty marriage to Gertrude:
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Though /ðoː/ though yet /jɛt/ yet of /ɒv/ of Hamlet /ˈhamlɛt/ Hamlet our /ʊːr/ our dear /diːr/ dear brother’s /ˈbrʊðərz/ brother’s death /dɛθ/ death the /ðə/ the memory /ˈmɛmərɪ/ memory be /biː/ be green, /griːn/ green
and /and/ and that /ðat/ that it /ɪt/ it us /ʊs/ us befitted /bɪˈfɪtɪd/ befitted to /tʊː/ to bear /bɛːr/ bear our /ʊːr/ our hearts /harts/ hearts in /ɪn/ in grief, /griːf/ grief
and /and/ and our /ʊːr/ our whole /hoːl/ whole kingdom /ˈkɪŋdəm/ kingdom to /tʊː/ to be /biː/ be contracted /kənˈtraktɪd/ contracted in /ɪn/ in one /ʊːn/ one brow /brʊː/ brow of /ɒv/ of woe, /woː/ woe
yet /jɛt/ yet so /soː/ so far /far/ far hath /haθ/ hath discretion /dɪsˈkrɛsɪən/ discretion fought /fɔːt/ fought with /wɪð/ with nature /ˈneːtjʊr/ nature
that /ðat/ that we /wiː/ we with /wɪð/ with wisest /ˈwɪːzɪst/ wisest sorrow /ˈsɒroː/ sorrow think /θɪŋk/ think on /ɒn/ on him /hɪm/ him
together /təˈgɛðər/ together with /wɪð/ with remembrance /rɪˈmɛmbrəns/ remembrance of /ɒv/ of ourselves. /ʊːrˈsɛlvz/ ourselves
Therefore /ˈðɛːrfɔːr/ therefore our /ʊːr/ our sometime /ˈsʊmtɪːm/ former sister, /ˈsɪstər/ sister now /nʊː/ now our /ʊːr/ our queen, /kwiːn/ queen
th’imperial /ðɪmˈpiːrɪəl/ the-imperial jointress /ˈdʒɔɪntrɛs/ jointress to /tʊː/ to this /ðɪs/ this warlike /ˈwɔːrlɪːk/ warlike state, /steːt/ state
have /hav/ have we, /wiː/ we as /az/ as ‘twere /twɛːr/ it-were with /wɪð/ with a /a/ a defeated /dɪˈfiːtɪd/ defeated joy, /dʒɔɪ/ joy
with /wɪð/ with an /an/ an auspicious /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/ auspicious and /and/ and a /a/ a dropping /ˈdrɒpɪŋ/ dropping eye, /ɪː/ eye
with /wɪð/ with mirth /mɪrθ/ mirth in /ɪn/ in funeral /ˈfjuːnərəl/ funeral and /and/ and with /wɪð/ with dirge /dɪrdʒ/ dirge in /ɪn/ in marriage, /ˈmarɪdʒ/ marriage
in /ɪn/ in equal /ˈiːkwəl/ equal scale /skeːl/ scale weighing /ˈweɪɪŋ/ weighing delight /dɪˈlɪːt/ delight and /and/ and dole, /doːl/ dole
taken /ˈteːkən/ taken her /hɛr/ her to /tʊː/ to wife. /wɪːf/ wife
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him Together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, Th’imperial jointress to this warlike state, Have we, as ‘twere with a defeated joy, With an auspicious and a dropping eye, With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, In equal scale weighing delight and dole, Taken her to wife.
“Though the memory of the death of Hamlet, our dear brother, is still fresh, and though it would have been fitting for us to carry our hearts in grief and for our whole kingdom to show sorrow with furrowed brow, yet discretion has so far overcome natural feeling that we think of him with wise restraint while also remembering our own interests. Therefore our former sister-in-law, now our queen, the imperial co-heir to this warlike state, we have—as if with subdued joy, with one eye looking hopefully and one looking sadly, with merriment at the funeral and lamentation at the wedding, weighing happiness and sorrow equally—taken as wife.”
F-C: Authentic Text Only
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother’s death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him Together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, Th’imperial jointress to this warlike state, Have we, as ‘twere with a defeated joy, With an auspicious and a dropping eye, With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, In equal scale weighing delight and dole, Taken her to wife.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
This passage demonstrates the superlative within “wisest sorrow,” showing the -est suffix form rather than most. Claudius’s rhetoric balances opposing terms throughout (mirth/funeral, dirge/marriage, delight/dole), exemplifying the antithetical style that most often intensifies elsewhere. Note “discretion” pronounced /dɪsˈkrɛsɪən/ with the period /sɪən/ ending, and “auspicious” where the -ious ending carries its Latinate vowel quality /ɔːˈspɪʃəs/.
The royal “we” pervades the speech, and “sometime” means “former” (our former sister-in-law). “Jointress” is a legal term for a woman holding joint property rights—Gertrude has inherited alongside Claudius.
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A petitioner addresses the court, seeking justice for wrongful imprisonment.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
69.16a Most gracious and sovereign majesty, I prostrate myself before thy throne.
69.16b Most /moːst/ most-INTENS gracious /ˈgreːsɪəs/ gracious and /and/ and sovereign /ˈsɒvrən/ sovereign majesty /ˈmadʒəstɪ/ majesty I /ɪː/ I prostrate /ˈprɒstreːt/ prostrate myself /mɪːˈsɛlf/ myself before /bɪˈfɔːr/ before thy /ðɪː/ thy throne /θroːn/ throne
69.17a Thy humble servant hath suffered most grievous injustice at the hands of thine officers.
69.17b Thy /ðɪː/ thy humble /ˈʊmbl/ humble servant /ˈsɛrvənt/ servant hath /haθ/ hath suffered /ˈsʊfərd/ suffered most /moːst/ most-INTENS grievous /ˈgriːvəs/ grievous injustice /ɪnˈdʒʊstɪs/ injustice at /at/ at the /ðə/ the hands /handz/ hands of /ɒv/ of thine /ðɪːn/ thine officers /ˈɒfɪsərz/ officers
69.18a Most of my goods have been seized without lawful cause.
69.18b Most /moːst/ most-QUANT of /ɒv/ of my /mɪː/ my goods /gʊːdz/ goods have /hav/ have been /biːn/ been seized /siːzd/ seized without /wɪðˈʊːt/ without lawful /ˈlɔːfʊl/ lawful cause /kɔːz/ cause
69.19a The accusation brought against me is most false and malicious.
69.19b The /ðə/ the accusation /akjʊˈzeːsɪən/ accusation brought /brɔːt/ brought against /əˈgɛːnst/ against me /meː/ me is /ɪz/ is most /moːst/ most-INTENS false /fɔːls/ false and /and/ and malicious /məˈlɪʃəs/ malicious
69.20a I beseech thee, most merciful prince, to hear my petition.
69.20b I /ɪː/ I beseech /bɪˈsiːtʃ/ beseech thee /ðiː/ thee most /moːst/ most-INTENS merciful /ˈmɛrsɪfʊl/ merciful prince /prɪns/ prince to /tʊː/ to hear /hiːr/ hear my /mɪː/ my petition /pɪˈtɪsɪən/ petition
69.21a Mine enemies have spoken most slanderously against my name.
69.21b Mine /mɪːn/ mine enemies /ˈɛnəmɪz/ enemies have /hav/ have spoken /ˈspoːkən/ spoken most /moːst/ most-INTENS slanderously /ˈslandərəslɪ/ slanderously against /əˈgɛːnst/ against my /mɪː/ my name /neːm/ name
69.22a The evidence they present is the most perjured testimony ever uttered in this court.
69.22b The /ðə/ the evidence /ˈɛvɪdəns/ evidence they /ðeɪ/ they present /prɪˈzɛnt/ present is /ɪz/ is the /ðə/ the most /moːst/ most-SUPERL perjured /ˈpɛːrdʒʊrd/ perjured testimony /ˈtɛstɪmoːnɪ/ testimony ever /ˈɛvər/ ever uttered /ˈʊtərd/ uttered in /ɪn/ in this /ðɪs/ this court /kɔːrt/ court
69.23a Most learned counsellors, I appeal to your wisdom and justice.
69.23b Most /moːst/ most-INTENS learned /ˈlɛːrnɪd/ learned counsellors /ˈkʊːnsələrz/ counsellors I /ɪː/ I appeal /əˈpiːl/ appeal to /tʊː/ to your /jʊːr/ your wisdom /ˈwɪzdəm/ wisdom and /and/ and justice /ˈdʒʊstɪs/ justice
69.24a The constable who arrested me acted most unlawfully.
69.24b The /ðə/ the constable /ˈkʊnstəbl/ constable who /ʍuː/ who arrested /əˈrɛstɪd/ arrested me /meː/ me acted /ˈaktɪd/ acted most /moːst/ most-INTENS unlawfully /ʊnˈlɔːfʊlɪ/ unlawfully
69.25a He did most cruelly abuse his office and authority.
69.25b He /heː/ he did /dɪd/ did most /moːst/ most-INTENS cruelly /ˈkrʊːəlɪ/ cruelly abuse /əˈbjuːz/ abuse his /hɪz/ his office /ˈɒfɪs/ office and /and/ and authority /ɔːˈθɒrɪtɪ/ authority
69.26a Most of my neighbours can witness to my good character.
69.26b Most /moːst/ most-QUANT of /ɒv/ of my /mɪː/ my neighbours /ˈneːbʊrz/ neighbours can /kan/ can witness /ˈwɪtnəs/ witness to /tʊː/ to my /mɪː/ my good /gʊːd/ good character /ˈkarɪktər/ character
69.27a They know me as the most honest tradesman in our parish.
69.27b They /ðeɪ/ they know /noː/ know me /meː/ me as /az/ as the /ðə/ the most /moːst/ most-SUPERL honest /ˈɒnəst/ honest tradesman /ˈtreːdzmən/ tradesman in /ɪn/ in our /ʊːr/ our parish /ˈparɪʃ/ parish
69.28a I have paid most diligently all taxes and duties owed unto the crown.
69.28b I /ɪː/ I have /hav/ have paid /peːd/ paid most /moːst/ most-INTENS diligently /ˈdɪlɪdʒəntlɪ/ diligently all /ɔːl/ all taxes /ˈtaksɪz/ taxes and /and/ and duties /ˈdjuːtɪz/ duties owed /oːd/ owed unto /ˈʊntʊː/ unto the /ðə/ the crown /krʊːn/ crown
69.29a My devotion to thy majesty hath been most constant and unwavering.
69.29b My /mɪː/ my devotion /dɪˈvoːsɪən/ devotion to /tʊː/ to thy /ðɪː/ thy majesty /ˈmadʒəstɪ/ majesty hath /haθ/ hath been /biːn/ been most /moːst/ most-INTENS constant /ˈkɒnstənt/ constant and /and/ and unwavering /ʊnˈweːvərɪŋ/ unwavering
69.30a I therefore pray most humbly that justice be done and my good name restored.
69.30b I /ɪː/ I therefore /ˈðɛːrfɔːr/ therefore pray /preɪ/ pray most /moːst/ most-INTENS humbly /ˈʊmblɪ/ humbly that /ðat/ that justice /ˈdʒʊstɪs/ justice be /biː/ be done /dʊːn/ done and /and/ and my /mɪː/ my good /gʊːd/ good name /neːm/ name restored /rɪˈstɔːrd/ restored
Part B: Natural Sentences
69.16 Most gracious and sovereign majesty, I prostrate myself before thy throne. “Most gracious and sovereign majesty, I prostrate myself before your throne.”
69.17 Thy humble servant hath suffered most grievous injustice at the hands of thine officers. “Your humble servant has suffered very grievous injustice at the hands of your officers.”
69.18 Most of my goods have been seized without lawful cause. “Most of my goods have been seized without lawful cause.”
69.19 The accusation brought against me is most false and malicious. “The accusation brought against me is utterly false and malicious.”
69.20 I beseech thee, most merciful prince, to hear my petition. “I beg you, most merciful prince, to hear my petition.”
69.21 Mine enemies have spoken most slanderously against my name. “My enemies have spoken very slanderously against my name.”
69.22 The evidence they present is the most perjured testimony ever uttered in this court. “The evidence they present is the most perjured testimony ever spoken in this court.”
69.23 Most learned counsellors, I appeal to your wisdom and justice. “Most learned counsellors, I appeal to your wisdom and justice.”
69.24 The constable who arrested me acted most unlawfully. “The constable who arrested me acted very unlawfully.”
69.25 He did most cruelly abuse his office and authority. “He did very cruelly abuse his office and authority.”
69.26 Most of my neighbours can witness to my good character. “Most of my neighbours can attest to my good character.”
69.27 They know me as the most honest tradesman in our parish. “They know me as the most honest tradesman in our parish.”
69.28 I have paid most diligently all taxes and duties owed unto the crown. “I have paid very diligently all taxes and duties owed to the crown.”
69.29 My devotion to thy majesty hath been most constant and unwavering. “My devotion to your majesty has been very constant and unwavering.”
69.30 I therefore pray most humbly that justice be done and my good name restored. “I therefore pray very humbly that justice be done and my good name restored.”
Part C: Elizabethan Text Only
69.16 Most gracious and sovereign majesty, I prostrate myself before thy throne.
69.17 Thy humble servant hath suffered most grievous injustice at the hands of thine officers.
69.18 Most of my goods have been seized without lawful cause.
69.19 The accusation brought against me is most false and malicious.
69.20 I beseech thee, most merciful prince, to hear my petition.
69.21 Mine enemies have spoken most slanderously against my name.
69.22 The evidence they present is the most perjured testimony ever uttered in this court.
69.23 Most learned counsellors, I appeal to your wisdom and justice.
69.24 The constable who arrested me acted most unlawfully.
69.25 He did most cruelly abuse his office and authority.
69.26 Most of my neighbours can witness to my good character.
69.27 They know me as the most honest tradesman in our parish.
69.28 I have paid most diligently all taxes and duties owed unto the crown.
69.29 My devotion to thy majesty hath been most constant and unwavering.
69.30 I therefore pray most humbly that justice be done and my good name restored.
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
This courtly petition demonstrates the density of most usage in formal Early Modern English address. Note the consistent pattern of most + adjective in honorific phrases (most gracious, most merciful, most learned). The quantifier most appears in 69.18 and 69.26 to indicate majority.
Key pronunciation notes for this section:
“Accusation” /akjʊˈzeːsɪən/ — note the period -tion as /sɪən/ “Petition” /pɪˈtɪsɪən/ — similarly /sɪən/ not modern /ʃən/ “Devotion” /dɪˈvoːsɪən/ — the /oː/ remains a monophthong
The subjunctive “be” in “that justice be done” (69.30) exemplifies formal petition language, as does “pray” meaning “request earnestly.”
“Mine enemies” (69.21) shows the older possessive form used before vowels, paralleling “thine officers” (69.17).
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Key Sound Correspondences in Original Pronunciation:
Spelling Modern RP Original Pronunciation Examples -tion /ʃən/ /sɪən/ nation, petition, devotion -sion /ʃən/ or /ʒən/ /sɪən/ or /zɪən/ discretion, occasion most /məʊst/ /moːst/ most love /lʌv/ /lʊv/ love, above good /gʊd/ /gʊːd/ good, blood done /dʌn/ /dʊːn/ done, come wh- /w/ /ʍ/ what, who, where
Common Pronunciation Errors for Modern Speakers: -
Using the modern diphthong /əʊ/ for the vowel in most — keep it as pure /oː/ -
Pronouncing -tion as /ʃən/ — use /sɪən/ consistently -
Dropping the /ʍ/ in wh- words — maintain the voiceless labio-velar -
Using /ʌ/ in words like “love,” “much,” “come” — these retained /ʊ/ -
Being non-rhotic — pronounce all written r‘s
Audio Reference Suggestions: -
David Crystal’s “Oxford Dictionary of Original Shakespearean Pronunciation” (with companion website audio) -
Ben Crystal’s performances at Shakespeare’s Globe in OP -
Paul Meier’s “Original Pronunciation” audio guide
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The Elizabethan English course follows the Latinum Institute methodology, which has been creating language learning materials since 2006. This frequency-based approach presents vocabulary according to how commonly words appear in authentic texts, ensuring learners acquire the most useful terms first.
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
Reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
The construed text method, also known as interlinear glossing, allows autodidact learners to access challenging historical texts immediately. By providing word-by-word translations with grammatical annotations and period-accurate IPA pronunciation, students can read authentic Elizabethan material from the first lesson while building systematic knowledge of the language’s structure.
This approach particularly benefits those studying Shakespeare, Marlowe, Jonson, and other Early Modern dramatists and poets. Understanding Elizabethan English unlocks not only the literature but the rich cultural world of Renaissance England—its law courts, taverns, playhouses, and palaces.
The Original Pronunciation component, based on the scholarship of David Crystal, Paul Meier, and others, restores the sound-world that Shakespeare’s first audiences would have heard. Rhymes work again; puns land; the earthy, energetic quality of the language emerges.
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✓ Lesson 069 Elizabethan English complete
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