“Stand Up for Bastards”: Natural Issue in the 1571 Act of Parliament, 13 Eliz., c. 1

by David  P. Gontar (March 2016)

“We are bastards all.”    — Posthumus Leonatus

“I am a bastard, too.  I love bastards.  I am a bastard begot, bastard instructed, bastard in mind, bastard in valor, in everything illegitimate.”    —  Thersites

Introduction: The Act in Question  more>>>

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One Response

  1. A fascinating piece of detectation and analysis.

    Did you perhaps mean “But it did not declare that henceforth illegitimates should inherit equally with legitimate offspring…”?

    This site seems very specific on De Vere’s mother being other than Elizabeth: luminarium(dot)org/encyclopedia/johndevere16.htm.

    Perhaps she was just a cougar attracted to an accomplished younger man. The existence of Henry W. is a fact that alone is consistent with your analysis.

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