thumb|left|Anne Vavasour, maid of honour to Elizabeth I, mother of de Vere's illegitimate son On 23 March 1581 Sir Francis Walsingham advised the Earl of Huntingdon that two days earlier Anne Vavasour, one of the Queen's maids of honour, had given birth to a son, and that "the Earl of Oxford is avowed to be the father, who hath withdrawn himself with intent, as it is thought, to pass the seas". Oxford was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London, as was Anne and her infant, who would later be known as Sir Edward Vere.; . Burghley interceded for Oxford, and he was released from the Tower on 8 June, but he remained under house arrest until some time in July..
thumb|left|Anne Vavasour maid of honour to Elizabeth I mother of de Vere's illegitimate son On 23 March 1581 Sir Francis Walsingham advised the Earl of Huntingdon that two days earlier Anne Vavasour one of the Queen's maids of honour had given birth to a son and that "the Earl of Oxford is avowed to be the father who hath withdrawn himself with intent as it is thought to pass the seas" Oxford was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London as was Anne and her infant who would later be known as Sir Edward Vere;  Burghley interceded for Oxford and he was released from the Tower on 8 June but he remained under house arrest until some time in July