The gentleman's mistress : Illegitimate relationships and children, 1450--1640

This is an exploration of the extent and implications of the pre- and extra-marital relationships of the gentry and nobility in the period 1450–1640 in the north of England. It challenges assumptions about the extent to which such activity declined in the period in question, and hence about the impact of Protestantism and other changes to the culture of the elite. The book is a major contribution to the literature on marriage and sexual relationships, on family and kinship and their impacts on wider social networks, and on gender. This study explores pre- and extra-marital relationships among the gentry and nobility of the north of England from 1450 to 1640: the keeping of mistresses, the taking of lovers, the birth of illegitimate children and the fate of those children. It challenges assumptions about the extent to which such activities declined in the period, and hence about the impact of Protestantism and other changes to the culture of the elite. A major contribution to the literature on marriage and sexual relationships, family, kinship and gender, it is aimed at an academic readership in the fields of social and political history. Front Matter; Contents; Figures And Tables; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; Explanatory Notes; Introduction; Background And Legal Framework; The Extent Of Bastardy Among The Elite; The Role And Status Of The Mistress; Gentlewomen And Their Lovers; The 'wronged' Partner; The Bastard Children; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index Tim Thornton And Katharine Carlton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Electronic Reproduction. Baltimore, Md Available Via World Wide Web. Front matter Contents List of figures and tables Acknowledgements List of abbreviations Explanatory notes Introduction Background and legal framework The extent of bastardy among the elite The role and status of the mistress Gentlewomen and their lovers The ‘wronged’ partner The bastard children Conclusion Bibliography Index This book explores continuities in the extra-marital relationships of the gentry and nobility in the north of England. A major contribution to debates on sex and marriage, family, kinship and gender, it challenges assumptions about the impact of Protestantism and other changes to elite culture.