Historical transformation of Naturalization in early modern England

这项研究提出了三个发现。首先，近代早期英国归化制度的特点是多层次、多变化。此外，1609年的法案似乎得出结论，宗教提供了国籍的关键定义以及自我和他者之间的区别。其次，本研究揭示了归化主体和归化居民的细节。结果表明，入籍的对象逐渐从苏格兰和英格兰的外国出生的儿童转移到外国人。第三，对近代早期伦敦外籍人士在英国所生子女身份的考察结果表明，伦敦人并不把这些子女看作是天生的臣民，而是把他们看作是外国人。总之，伦敦当局接受了一种归属感的概念，即英国性，这种归属感基于父母的血统，而不是出生在君主的领土上。

This research presents three findings. Firstly, in early modern England, the features of the system of the naturalization are its multilayered and variable one. Additionally, by the act in 1609, it seems to conclude that religion provided the crucial definition of nationality and difference between the selfness and the otherness. Secondly, this research reveals the details of naturalized subjects and denizens. The result indicated that the target for naturalization shifted gradually from the Scottish and the English children who were foreign born to aliens from abroad. Thirdly, the result of investigation into the status of the English-born children of aliens in early modern London shows that Londoners recognized these children not as natural born subjects, but as aliens. In conclusion, authorities in London accepted a notion of belonging, namely Englishness, which was grounded in parental lineage rather than in birth in the territory of the sovereign.