titles

[soliloquy]

Not sure if this is the right section for this question but maybe somebody here knows the answer anyway.

IN ELIZABETHAN TIMES, HOW WERE NON-TITLED WOMEN REFERRED TO FORMALLY? WAS IT "MISTRESS", WHETHER MARRIED OR UNMARRIED? AND WOULD A MAN BE REFERRED TO AS "MASTER"?

[Mesmer]

Shakespeare called non titled women Mistress as in Mistress Quickly in Henry V and The Merry Wives of Widsor. In the former she is described as the Hostess of a Tavern "formerly Mistress Quickly, and now married to Pistol" which implies her title changes after marriage. However in the latter there are also Mistresses Ford and Page but the daughter of Page unmarried is known by her surname Anne. It seems that the title Mistress (Page was married "she's as fartuous a civil modest wife") could be used for both married and unmarried women. Mistress comes from the Old French Maistresse and the masculine is Maistre (Master ). Hope this helps.

[soliloquy]

Thank you Mesmer. It does help. My message of thanks doesn't seem to have been posted so I'm trying again.