“Damysell, þat can ʒe best do”

Abstract An examination of early Middle English texts is essential for understanding the emergence and development of the t / v distinction, which refers to the functional distinction between the less formal singular pronoun thou ( t ) and the more polite plural form ye ( v ) to address a single interlocutor. This study investigates t / v forms in four saints’ lives contained in two early Middle English collections, namely the South English Legendary ( sel ) and the Northern Homily Cycle ( nhc ). The results of this study indicate that t forms predominate both in the sel and the nhc . The few v pronouns which appear in the selected texts often signal marked respect for a superior interlocutor and usually occur in contexts where interactionally inferior speakers make requests. These findings show that pronouns of address were highly functional and thus suggest that t / v forms could be employed strategically to characterise the interlocutors and their verbal interaction.