And in this hous, ther ye me lady maade –
The heighe God take I for my witnesse,
And also wysly he my soule glaade –
I nevere heeld me lady ne mistresse,
But humble servant to youre worthynesse,
And evere shal, whil that my lyf may dure.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Clerk’s Tale. Griselda confesses to Walter that when he made her the lady of the house, she never saw herself as lady or mistress, but as a humble servant to his worthiness. While she lived that would always be how she saw herself.