The tale of Edward de Vere's famous fart goes something like this: Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, was a nobleman in Queen Elizabeth I's court. In front of the entire court, Edward bowed deeply to the Queen. As he did, he unexpectedly let out a loud fart. He was so ashamed that he exiled himself from England for seven years. When he finally returned to the court, Queen Elizabeth famously greeted him with the line: "My Lord, I had forgot the fart."