Fun fact: the y in "ye" when used as a definite article is actually a thorn: þ and still pronounced as "th." This is from the character y being used as a replacement for þ in early printable typesets that did not include it. The unrelated second person plural pronoun "ge" also became "ye" and the two became confused in common usage. So, if you ever hear someone say "yee olde ..." or similar instead of "thee olde ...", please remember how I'm a smug, self-satisfied bastard.
Fun fact: the y in "ye" when used as a definite article is actually a thorn: þ and still pronounced as "th." This is from the character y being used as a replacement for þ in early printable typesets that did not include it. The unrelated second person plural pronoun "ge" also became "ye" and the two became confused in common usage. So, if you ever hear someone say "yee olde ..." or similar instead of "thee olde ...", please remember how I'm a smug, self-satisfied bastard.