In the book Anne Orthwood’s Bastard, John Ruston Pagan compares and contrasts English and Virginia law during the 16th century. Pagan uses the civil case of Anne Orthwood and John Kendall to show the differences and similarities of English and Virginia law. Unforgivable topics, according to English and Virginia law, are fornication and illegitimate children, and they are brought up in the case of Anne Orthwood and John Kendall. English and Virginia law set two different, yet similar, standards for determining whether or not someone is guilty in the 16th century. The court case of Anne Orthwood and John Kendall is brought about when the two of them accused of having pre-martial sex. Anne Orthwood was an indentured servant in 16th century.
