mmunicate his vision with the rest of the Christian community. Masters & Servants Terms Grooms are generic household serving men; grooms of the stable, chamber, etc. Females of the same order are called maids or serving maids: of the kitchen, chamber, still room, etc. Most of the servants in any household are men. Personal attendant is a descriptive term, not a job title. In general, it separates everyone else's personal servants (of all ranks) from household grooms and maids. (Never introduce anyone as "my P.A.") The term valet is in use in English as early as 1567. According to the OED, a valet is "a man-servant performing duties chiefly relating to the person of his master; a gentleman's personal attendant." From 'varlet': the British pronunciation is (and almost certainly was) "VAL-ett". Valet (val-AY) is a little too French, don't y'think? The most common term for the job is gentleman, manservant, or just man. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio refers to Romeo's ever present servant as "his man", as in "Romeo came not home tonight. I spoke with his man." Female equivalents are waiting gentlewoman or maid, depending on the rank of the relevant parties. A lady might refer to her gentlewoman or her maid. (Only the Queen has Ladies in Waiting.) As a verb, say that you serve, or wait upon, or attend (but not "work for") someone. Or that you are waited on or attended to by someone. General AttitudesCredit, or reputation, has to do with one's personal dignity or honor. Frances Countess of Sussex once said (1588) "My credit is more to me than my life." A servant and master strive to do each other credit. As a noble, it is unbecoming to your dignity to carry your own shopping basket. As a noble's servant, it is unbecoming to your dignity to let her. As a noble, it befits your dignity to dress yourself and your servants well. As a servant, you do your master credit by looking and behaving well. Sir Thomas Smith said, "A gentleman sh...
