Since he was of illegitimate birth, a special dispensation was required in those days for him to attend seminary.

His dispensation for his illegitimate birth had already been obtained from the pope.

I cannot be the only one in the hall who became alarmed at what appeared to be way too many illegitimate births.

Records for the period even preserve a spike in illegitimate births.

Illegitimate births increased steadily throughout the century, reaching 20% of all births in 1799.