The three occurrences of 'base-born' are restricted to the second and third parts of Henry VI. On two occasions the word collocates with 'callot'. Queen Margaret on one occasion refers to the Duchess of Gloucester as a "base-born callot" (2H6 1.3.83). On the other occasion, the sons of the Duke of York call her "base-born heart" and "shameless callet" (3H6 2.2.143, 145).
In its other occurrence, the word refers to the peasant rebel Jack Cade (2H6 4.8.47).
25 July, 1999
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