in relation to its trial in law, is distinguished into general and special. General bastardy is a certificate from the bishop of the diocese, to the king's justices, after inquiry made, whether the party is a bastard or not, upon some question of inheritance. Bastardy special is a suit commenced in the king's courts, against a person that calls another bastard.

Arms of Bastardy should be crossed with a bar, fillet, or traverse, from the left to the right. They were not formerly allowed to carry the arms of their father, and therefore they invented arms for themselves; and this is still done by the natural sons of a king.

Right of Bastardy, Droit de bastardise, in the French laws, is a right, in virtue whereof the effects of bastards dying intestate devolve to the king or the lord.