If you don't know a doublet from a doubloon, it's time to brush up on your Elizabethan lingo, because Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire flounces in this weekend.

The annual event draws more than 20,000 visitors each year, in addition to the more than 1,000 players, including shopkeepers, food vendors and members of the court, including a troupe of knights who delight the crowds with several displays of jousting.

Since 2002, the outdoor event has been held in Kings Valley, a rural setting that lends itself to the magic of the festival, which tries its hardest to transport visitors to the age of elegance and adventure of England during the 1500-1600s. Participants wear historically accurate clothing that would have been familiar to William Shakespeare and speak in a fashion that Queen Elizabeth I would have readily understood.

For the unitiated visitor, it can take some getting used to, but everyone is having such a good time recreating the Renaissance era that even the most modern visitor will soon succumb to thees and thous and prithee fine masters.

Don't worry if there's not a lot of lace and velvet in your wardrobe. There will be plenty of vendors at hand to outfit you in the latest jerkin (vest) or farthingale (hoop skirt), and everything from wind chimes to perfumes to jewelry will be available for purchase.

This year, a new troupe of traveling knights will be jousting at the faire. The Imperial Knights of California will bring their magic, and their horses, to the event for two days of jousting. The knights come from a variety of backgrounds, including the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas, Medieval Times in Los Angeles, and the Lipizzaner Stallions traveling troupe. To find out more, see www.medievaljoust.com

/knights

There will be plenty of other new things to check out at the faire this year, organizer Dan Kay said.

"We have a good rotation of new vendors coming in," Kay said. "And at one encampment, they'll be giving lessons in swordplay for children."

Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire takes place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14, in Kings Valley. Admission is $9 for adults, $8 with a coupon found at http://shrewfaire.com. Seniors and children are $5, with children under 5 free. Parking is free.

Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire is offering free admission to the Faire for any active duty U.S. military personnel with the presentation of an active duty military ID.

If thee Goeth: Terms to live by in the renaissance

In addition to the fantastical costumes that are the hallmark of Renaissance faires, the biggest hurdle to throwing yourself into the event is to understand the language of the players, and to hopefully get comfortable enough responding in Ye Olde English.

According to the Internet source of all things Renaissance faire, www.renfaire.com, it's important to have fun with the language. The site advises to "Never use one word where two will do!" By sprinkling your speech with "right" and "most" and other simple words, it's easy to dress up an ordinary sentence. Practice with a few flirtatious phrases. Instead of "She's hot," try "She art most marvelously comely."

Once you've got that down, here are a few Renaissance staples you'll want to add to your lexicon.

Anon - until later

Morrow - day

E'en - even/evening

Fare-thee-well - goodbye

Aye/yea - yes

Nay - no

Ne'r - never

Oft - often

Wherefore - why

Mayhap/perchance/belike - maybe

Verily - very/truly

Prithee/pray - please

Fie - a curse

Grammarcy - thank you