User:The Dancing Badger/List of documentary references to Shakespeare

This is a list of documents that refer to William Shakespeare by name.

1564-1590

 * April 26, 1564. Christening of "Gulielmus filius Iohannes Shakspere" (William, son of John Shakespeare).
 * November 27, 1582. Marriage of Wm Shaxpere" and "Annã whateley" at Temple Grafton. ('Whateley' is generally assumed to be a clerical error for 'Hathaway').
 * November 28, 1582. Bond of sureties signed for the marriage of "willm Shagspere" and "Anne Hathwey". (A document required because Shakespeare was legally a minor).
 * May 26, 1583. Christening of "Susanna daughter to William Shakespeare".
 * February 2, 1585. Christening of "Hamnet and Iudeth [Judith], sonne & daughter to Williã Shakspere."

1592-1600

 * 1592. Robert Greene's Greene's Groatsworth of Wit attacks one 'Shake-scene' as an upstart. Henry Chettle's Kind-Heart's Dream then apologises to the recipient of Greene's attack for publishing the remarks, and praises his honest dealing and skilful writing.
 * 1593. Venus and Adonis published as by "William Shakespeare".
 * 15 March, 1595. Three actors, including "William Shakespeare", paid for a court performance at Greenwich.
 * 1594. The Rape of Lucrece published as by "William Shakespeare"; it includes a prefatory letter from Shakespeare to his patron.
 * 1594. Henry Willobie in Willobie his Avisa includes the line "And Shake-speare paints poor Lucrece' rape", referring to The Rape of Lucrece''.
 * 1595. In a list of worthy English poets in Polimanteia, William Covell includes "Lucrecia Sweet Shak-speare."
 * 15 March, 1595. The Accounts of the Treasurer of the Queen's Chamber list Shakespeare as one of the payees for performances at the royal court by the Lord Chamberlain's Men, along with William Kempe and Richard Burbage.
 * August 11, 1596. Burial of "Hamnet filius William Shakespere".
 * October 20, 1596. Grant of Arms to John Shakespeare. (A document permitting the Shakespeare family to be regarded as gentry rather than commoners).
 * 1597. Richard II published as by "William Shakespeare".
 * 4 May, 1597. Documents record Shakespeare's purchase of New Place, his large house in Stratford.
 * 15 November, 1597. "William Shackspeare" of Bishopsgate, London, is listed as not having paid taxes.
 * 1598. Love's Labour's Lost published as "By W. Shakespere".
 * 1598. Second edition of Richard III published as by "William Shake-speare".
 * 1598. Francis Meres's Palladis Tamia compares Shakespeare to Classical writers including Ovid, Plautus and Seneca.
 * 1598. Richard Barnfield's "A Remembrance of Some English Poets" praises "Shakespeare", "Whose Venus, and whose Lucrece" have made him immortal.
 * 1598. "Mr shaxpere" sold a load of stone in Stratford.
 * 4 February, 1598. "Wm Shackespe" is recorded as holding corn and malt in Stratford.
 * 1 October, 1598 "William Shakespeare" is listed as a tax defaulter in Bishopsgate.
 * October 25, 1598. Letter from Richard Quiney to Shakespeare thanking him for helping him with his debts and asking for a loan.
 * 1598-1599. "Willm Shakespeare" listed in the Enrolled Subsidy Accolunt, London.
 * 1599. A draft is made of a grant permitting John Shakespeare to impale is coat of arms with that of his wife's family (the Ardens).
 * 1599. Second edition of Henry IV Part 1 published as by "W. Shake-speare".
 * 1599. The Passionate Pilgrim published as "by W. Shakespeare".
 * 16 May, 1599, a London inventory lists the Globe Theatre as being occupied by "William Shakespeare and others".
 * 6 October, 1599. "Wilłmus Shakspere" listed as owing money to the Exchequer.

1600-1605

 * 1600. Henry IV, Part Two, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing and The Merchant of Venice published as "by William Shakespeare".
 * 6 October, 1600. "Wilłmus Shakspere" listed as owing money to the Exchequer.
 * c.1601. The Cambridge University plays The Return from Parnassus, Parts 1 and 2 make jokes about Shakespeare's poetry and drama.
 * c.1601. Gabriel Harvey notes in manuscript that "The younger sort takes much delight in Shakespeare's Venus, & Adonis: but his Lucrece, & his tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke, have it in them, to please the wiser sort".
 * 1601. "The Phoenix and the Turtle" published as by "William Shake-speare".
 * March 25, 1601. In his will, Thomas Whittington of Shottery bequeathes to the poor some money owed him by "Wyllyam Shaxspere".
 * October 7, 1601. "William Shackspeare gent" listed in a document concerning the Globe theatre.
 * 1602. In a document accusing the Garter King-at-Arms of elevating "base persons" to the gentry, "Shakespere" is written in the margin.
 * 1602. The Merry Wives of Windsor printed as "By William Shakespeare".
 * 1602. New Place reconveyed to William Shakespeare.
 * 1602. The York Herald complains about players, including "Shakespear ye Player".
 * March 13, 1602. John Manningham recounts in his diary a scandalous story about Shakespeare's sexual exploits.
 * 1 May, 1602. "William Shakespere" pays William and John Combe for some land in Stratford
 * 28 September, 1602. "William Shackespere" buys a cottage in Stratford.
 * 1603. A poem by Henry Chettle calls on poets, including Shakespeare, to lament Queen Elizbeth's death.
 * Michaelmas Term, 1602. "Willielmum Shakespeare" buys New Place.
 * 1603. Hamlet published as "By William Shake-speare".
 * May 17-19, 1603. "William Shakespeare" listed in several documents as one of the actors chartered to perform as the King's Men.
 * 1604. Anthony Scoloker's Daiphantus, or the Passions of Love mentions "Friendly Shakespeare's Tragedies".
 * 1604. The poem commanding Shakespeare and others to mourn Queen Elizabeth is reprinted in John Cooke's Epigrams.
 * 1604. "Willielmus Shexpere" sues apothecary Philip Rogers.
 * 15 March, 1604. Several players given red cloth for King James's investiture, including "William Shakespeare".

1605-1616

 * 1604/5: Second version of Hamlet printed as "By William Shake-speare".
 * 1605. "Shaxberd" appears next to The Merchant of Venice in a list of plays performed at court.
 * 1605. The London Prodigal published as Shakespeare's.
 * 5 May, 1605. The will of actor Augustine Phillips bequeaths thirty shillings to "my ffellowe william Shakespeare".
 * 24 July, 1605. Two documents show "William Shakspre" making corn deals in corn in Stratford.
 * 1606. Publication of The Return from Parnassus, Part 2 (see above).
 * 1607. William Barksted's Myrrha, the Mother of Adonis mentions "Shakspeare" as a poet.
 * c.1608. Francis Beaumont's poem to Ben Jonson describes Shakespeare as an untutored genius.
 * 1608. King Lear published as by "M. William Shak-speare".
 * 1608. A Yorkshire Tragedy pubished as Shakespeare's.
 * August 1608 - June 1609. Several documents related to "Willielmo Shackspeare" and his suing of a London blacksmith.
 * November 11, 1608. "William Shakespeare gent" is involved in a financial deal involving the Globe theatre.
 * 1609. Publication of Shake-speare's Sonnets.
 * 1609. Pericles published as "By William Shakespeare".
 * 1609. Troilus and Cressida published as 'By William Shakespeare'.
 * 1610. Court of Common Pleas fine refers to Shakespeare's land purchases in Stratford.
 * 1611. Court of Chancery Bill of Complaint records Shakespeare and others suing some tenants.
 * September 11, 1611. "mr William shackspere" contributes money toward supporting the Highways Bill.
 * 1612. John Webster's The White Devil includes "M. Shake-speare" in a list of dramatists he admires.
 * 1616. The Folio of Ben Jonson's Works includes "Will Shakespeare" in the cast list for Every Man in his Humour and "Will. Shake-Speare" in the cast list for Sejanus.
 * March 25, 1616. Shakespeare's will.
 * April 25, 1616. Burial of "will Shakspere gent".