What is the difference between terms?

[benny1982]

Ooh must have been horrible for those 3 men to be suspected and named and shamed.

[Gododdin]

Agree with JohnN; 'merrily begotten' sounds so carefree. Brows tend to furrow imagining the begetting of the rest!
Godo

[Peter Goodey]

I'm not interested [but others may be] in debating morals of society through various generations

I'm not sure if there's a possible misunderstanding there. I'm not saying they didn't care about morality but an important reason why you find references to illegitimacy in Church of England registers is because of the legal implications. For example, an illegitimate child born in the parish acquired settlement in the parish and was therefore a potential 'burden' on the rates (using a term beloved of certain modern day politicians). On the other hand a legitimate child took the settlement of the father and might therefore be someone else's problem!

[Waitabit]

'Merrily begotten' - now that's got a nice ring to it!

It's when the merrily wears off that the other bits tag on & sink in.

One day we'll all answer to these slurrs & slipups.