1561 -

1562
Margaret Shakespeare (Wm.'s sister) is christened.

1563
Margaret Shakespeare is buried.

1564
26th April .Entry of the baptism of William Shakespeare in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. Probable date of birth is 23rd April.

1565 -

1566
John Shakespeare is elected Alderman.

1567
Gilbert Shakespeare (Wm.'s brother) is christened.

1568
John Shakespeare becomes High Bailiff (i.e. Mayor).

1569 -

1570 -

1571
John Shakespeare is made Chief Alderman. A warrant for his arrest is issued for non-payment of a debt of £30.

1572
Anne Shakespeare (Wm.'s sister) is christened.

1573

1574
Richard Shakespeare (Wm.'s brother) is christened.

1575
John Shakespeare buys 2 houses in Henley Street for £40.

1576
John Shakespeare applies for a coat-of-arms.

1577
John Shakespeare ceases to attend Council meetings.

1578
John Shakespeare mortgages his wife's property to raise a loan of £40 from Edmund Lambert. He is excused from payment of a levy in Stratford for poor relief.

1579
Anne Shakespeare (Wm.'s sister) is buried.

1580
John Shakespeare is fined £40 for failure to attend the Queen's Bench Court to provide security against breach of the peace.

May3
Edmund Shakespeare (Wm.'s brother) is christened.

1581 -

1582
A special licence is issued by Bishop of Worcester for marriage of Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway.

1583
Susanna Shakespeare (Shakespeare's daughter) is christened.

1584 -

1585
Hamnet and Judith Shakespeare (Shakespeare's twins) are christened.

1586 -

1587
John Lambert inherits from his father the mortgaged property (see entry for 1578) forfeited by
John Shakespeare for his failure to repay £40 loan.

1588 -

1590 -

1591 -

1592
Harey the Vj (probably first part of Shakespeare's Henry VI) performed and recorded in Henslowe's Diary. Shakespeare is named as recusant -one who, against the law, did not go at least once a month to church.

1593
First publication of Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis recorded in Stationer's Register.

1594
Possible first performance of Titus Andronicus recorded in Henslowe's Diary.
First publication of Titus Andronicus recorded in Stationer's Register.
Performance of The Taming of the Shrew recorded by Henslowe.
The Ravyshement of Lucrece recorded in Stationer's Register better known as Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece.
Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors performed at Gray's Inn.
Titus Andronicus anonymously published. Second publication of Venus and Adonis.

1595
Shakespeare mentioned among players paid £20 in all for plays presented in the previous December before Queen Elizabeth.

1596
Hamnet (Shakespeare's son) buried at Stratford.
An application for a grant of arms by John Shakespeare (in 1576) successful.
A writ of Attachment is issued to Sheriff of Surrey to enforce Shakespeare and three others to keep the peace.

1597
The Garter ceremonies at Windsor include probable first performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Shakespeare buys New Place, two cottages and two barns in Stratford.
Richard II is entered in Stationer's Register.
Richard III is entered in Stationer's Register.
Tax Collector of St.Helen's, Bishopsgate, reports non-payment of 5 shillings tax by Shakespeare.
Romeo and Juliet is entered in Stationer's Register. Richard II published. Richard III
published.

1598
Abraham Sturley writes to Richard Quiney about contacting Shakespeare concerning his land in Shottery and helping to get Stratford's taxes reduced.
Town record of Chapel Street, Stratford, shows Shakespeare as holding 10 quarters (80 bushels) of 'come and malte'.
Henry IV (part I) is entered in Stationer's Register and printed later in year.
The Merchant of Venice entered in Stationer's Register.
Shakespeare is listed as defaulter for non-payment of taxes in St.Helen's Parish, London.
Richard Quiney, again in London, writes to Shakespeare as 'my Loveing good ffrend and contreymann' asking for loan to pay debts. Letter apparently undelivered.
Adrian Quiney writes to son Richard, at The Bell, Carter Land, London, urging him to bring home any money he borrows from Shakespeare.
Abraham Sturley writes to Richard Quiney implying that he expects Shakespeare to provide a loan.
Love's Labour's Lost published. Richard ill (Q2) published.
Richard, n (Q2 and Q3) published. The Rape of Lucrece (Q2) published.

1599
Shakespeare named with others as lessee/shareholder in land for Globe Theatre.
Shakespeare recorded as owing taxes in St.Helen's Parish, Bishopsgate.
Romeo and Juliet (Q2) published. Henry IV (I) (Q2) published.
Venus and Adonis (Q3) published-

1600
Henry V, As You Like It, Much Ado About Nothing entered in Stationer's Register.
Much Ado About Nothing (2) entered in Stationer's Register, as 'by' Shakespeare --first mention of his name in Register.
Christening of William, Shakespeare's nephew, by his sister, Joan Hart.
Shakespeare recorded as owning 13s.4d. in tax in Sussex (which included Surrey for tax purposes).
A Midsummer Night's Dream entered in Stationer's Register.
Much Ado About Nothing (QI) published.
A Midsummer Night's Dream (QI) published. Henry V (QI) published.
Henry IV (2) (QI) published.
The Merchant of Venice (QI) published. Titus Andronicus (Q2) published. .
The Rape of Lucrece (Q2, Q3) published.

1601
Thomas Whittington, a shepherd for Joan Hathaway bequeaths 40 shillings to the poor of Stratford, owed to him by Shakespeare's wife.
John Shakespeare buried, Holy Trinity, Stratford.

1602
The Merry Wives of Windsor entered in Stationer's Register.
Shakespeare buys 107 acres of farm-land in Old Stratford from William and John Combe for £320.00.
Hamlet entered in Stationer's Register.
Shakespeare acquires from Walter Getley 1/4 acre of land and cottage in Chapel Lane.
The Merry Wives of Windsor (QI) published.
Henry V (Q2) published.
Richard III (Q3) published.

1603
A Midsummer Night's Dream performed at Hampton Court.
Troilus and Cressida entered in Stationer's Register.
Shakespeare's name included in patent granted to Lord Chamberlain's Men renaming them the 'King's Men'.
Hamlet (Ql) published.
Mary Hart christened at Stratford.

1604
Shakespeare mentioned in accounts by Master of the Great Wardrobe as receiving 4 1/2 yards of cloth for appearing at James I's coronation with the King's Men.
Privy Council warrant for a play names Shakespeare as one of King's Men.
Phillip Rogers sued for 3s.1Od for malt supplied by Shakespeare.
Othello performed at Whitehall.
The Merry Wives of Windsor performed at Court.
Measure for Measure performed at Court.
Hamlet (Q2) published.
Henry IV (I) (Q3) published.

1605
Love's Labour's Lost performed at Court. Henry V performed at Court.
The Merchant of Venice performed at Court.
The Merchant of Venice performed at Court.
Shakespeare left 30 shillings in gold by fellow-actor Augustine Phillips.
Thomas Hart christened at Stratford.
Shakespeare pays £440 for 1/4 of Bishopton tithes lease.
Richard III published.
Susanna Shakespeare named as recusant for failing to receive Easter Sunday communion.
King Lear performed at Whitehall by King's Men.
Susanna Shakespeare married Dr.John Hall at Holy Trinity, Stratford.
An Edward Shakespeare, son of Edmund Shakespeare, player, recorded as buried at St.Giles, Cripplegate, London.
Hamlet performed aboard 'Dragon' --English ship in Sierra Leone.
King Lear entered in Stationer's Register.
Burial of Mary Hart at Stratford.
Edmund Shakespeare, player, recorded as buried at St. Saviour's, Southwark, London.

1608
Elizabeth Hall christened at Stratford.
Antony and Cleopatra entered in Stationer's Register.
Shakespeare and 6 colleagues lease Blackfriars Theatre for 21 years.
Shakespeare's mother buried at Stratford.
Michael Hart christened.
Shakespeare becomes god-father to William Walker of Stratford.
John Addenbrooke arrested for non-payment of debt to Shakespeare.

1609
Shakespeare's sonnets entered in Stationer's Register.
Pericles (Q1, Q2) published.
Troilus and Cressida published.

1610
Shakespeare completes conveyance of land amounting to 127 acres begun in 1602.

1611
Simon Forman sees Cymbeline and records it in his Booke of Plaies.
Forman records performance of The Winter's Take at the Globe Theatre.
Pericles (Q3) published.

Hamlet (Q3) published.
Titus Andronicus (Q3) published.

1612
Gilbert Shakespeare buried at Stratford.
Shakespeare and John Wilkins witnesses in Belott-Mountjoy suit. His place of residence
given as Stratford in his deposition.
The Tempest performed by King's Men.
The Winter's Tale performed by King's Men.
Richard III (Q5) published.

1613
John Combe bequeaths Shakespeare £3.
Richard Shakespeare buried.
Shakespeare buys Blackfriars Gate-house in London.
Shakespeare and Richard Burbage each receive 44 shillings for an impresa for Earl of
Rutland's shield.
Payments to King's Men for performance of Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest,
The Winter's Tale, Henry IV ( I and II), Othello and Julius Caesar.
Susanna Hall sues John Lane for defamation of her character in Consistory Court.

1614
Thomas Greene records that Shakespeare owns approximately 127 acres in Stratford.
Thomas Greene records that Shakespeare and Dr.John Hall (Shakespeare's son-in-Iaw) are in London on business concerning Stratford tithes.

1615
Shakespeare involved in law suit with Mathew Bacon concerning Blackfriars property.
Thomas Greene refers to Shakespeare and possible land enclosures.

1616
Shakespeare's will drawn up.
Judith Shakespeare marries Thomas Quiney.
Thomas and Judith Quiney excommunicated.
Shakespeare revises will.
William Hart buried.
William Shakespeare's burial recorded in Register of Holy Trinity, Stratford.

1617
Richard Quiney christened. Shakespeare Quiney buried.
Ben Jonson in conversations with William Drummond makes references to Shakespeare.
Dr.Hall and Susanna occupy New Place. Venus and Adonis (Q9) published.

1619
Pericles performed.
The Winter's Tale, Hamlet, and Henry IV (2) performed at Court.

1620
Thomas Quiney (Jnr.) christened.

1621
Othello entered in Stationer's Register.

1622
Elizabeth Hall marries Thomas Nashe. Othello published.
Henry IV (I) (Q6) published. Richard III (Q6) published.

1623
Twelfth Night performed at Court.
Burial of Shakespeare's wife, Anne, at Stratford. Publication of First Folio

Other Events in Shakespeare's Age.

1556 -

1557
George Peel born (died 1596).

1558
Queen Elizabeth succeeds to the throne.

1560
George Chapman born (died 1634).

1561
Francis Bacon born (died 1626).
Mary Herbert born (died 1621).

1562
Arthur Brooke's Romeus and Juliet published.

1563
Cecil, Earl of Salisbury born (died 1612).

1564
Christopher Marlow born (died 1593)
Michelangelo born (died 1475).
Galileo born (died 1642).
John Hawkins begins 2nd voyage to New World.

1565
Francis Meres born (died 1647).
Mary, Queen of Scots, marries Darnley.
Hawkins introduces sweet potatoes and tobacco to England.

1566
Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex born (died 1601).
James, future King of England and Scotland, born (died 1625).

1567
Thomas Nashe born (died 1601).
Damley murdered (by Bothwell?).
Mary, Queen of Scots marries Bothwell and is forced to abdicate.
Richard Burbage born (died 1619).
Hawkins and Francis Drake voyage to West Indies.

1568
Mary, Queen of Scots, takes refuge in England.
Bishops' Bible published.

1569
Cosimo di Medici made Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Mercator's map of world made.

1570
Thomas Middleton born (died 1627). Thomas Heywood born (died 1641).
Nicholas Hilliard's portrait of Queen Elizabeth. Guy Fawkes born (executed 1605).

1571 -

1572
Ben Jonson born (died 1637).
Thomas Dekker born (died 1632).
John Donne born (died 1631).
Massacre of St.Bartholomew's Day.
Drake attacks Spanish harbours in America.

1573
Caravaggio born (died 1610).
Inigo Jones born (died 1652).
Drake sees Pacific Ocean for the first time.

1574
Burbage gets license to open London theatre.

1575
Queen Elizabeth on progress visits Kenilworth.
John Marston born (died 1634).

1576
The Theatre opens in London.
Titian dies (born 1477).
Martin Frobisher discovers Frobisher Bay, Canada.

1577
Robert Burton born (died 1640).
The Curtain Theatre opens in London.
Holinshed's Chronicle published.
Rubens born (died 1640).
Drake starts circumnavigation of world.

1578
James VI (later James I of England) becomes King of Scotland.
Lyly's Euphues published.

1579
John Fletcher born (died 1625).
Stephen Gosson's Schoole of Abuse published.
Drake 'annexes' New Albion, California, for England.
Edmund Spenser's The Shepherde's Calendar published.

1580
Spenser's The Faerie Queen (Bks.I-3) published.

1591
Sidney's Astrophel and Stella published.
Christopher Wren born (died 1658).

1592
Henslowe begins his Diary.
Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy published.
15,000 die of plague in London.
Groatsworth of Wit, a pamphlet by Robert Greene, entered in Stationer's Register; contains slurring reference to Shakespeare as an upstart young dramatist.
Kind-Harts Dreame, a pamphlet by Henry Chettle contains reply and apology for Greene's references to Shakespeare.

1593
May 30, Christopher Marlowe dies (born 1564).
The play of Sir Thomas More written with contributions from Munday, Chettle, Heywood, Dekker, Shakespeare.
Poussin born (died 1665).

1594
Thomas Kyd dies (born 1557).
Greene's Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay published.
Marlowe's Edward II published.
Tintoretto dies (born 1518.)

1595
Sidney's Defense of Poesie published.
Spenser's Faerie Queene (Bks.4-6) published.
Opening of Blackfriars Theatre.
Descartes born (died 1650).
Sir Francis Drake dies (born 1546),
Galileo invents thermometer.

1597
Bacon's Essays (version I) published.
Second Spanish Armada scattered by storm.
James VI's Daemonologie published.
Dowland' s Songes published.

1598
Rebellion in Ireland. Marlowe's Hero and Leander published.
Thomas Bodley begins rebuilding of Oxford Library.
Shakespeare referred to in Palladis Tamia by Francis Meres.
The 'Theatre' demolished.

1599
Edmund Spenser dies (born 1552).
Chamberlain's Men occupy Globe Theatre.
Thomas Platter of Basle sees Julius Caesar at Globe.
Arrest of Earl of Essex.
Oliver Cromwell born (died 1658).
Venus and Adonis praised by John Weever in his poem Ad Gulielmum Shakespeare.

1600
Fortune Theatre built by Alleyn.
Charles -future King of England -born (executed 1649).
Dekker's The Shoemaker's Holiday published.
Thomas Morley's Ayres (Bk.1 ) published.
Population of England and Ireland estimated at 5 1/2 million.

1601
Earl of Essex leads revolt against Queen Elizabeth.
Essex and the Earl of Southampton tried --Essex executed, Southampton reprieved.
Thomas Nashe dies. (born. 1567).
References to Shakespeare in anonymous play, The Retume from Pamassus (pt. I.)

1602
Ben Jonson's The Poetaster published.
Thomas Dekker's Satiromastix published.
Bodleian Library, Oxford, opened.
Part 2 of anonymous play, The Retume from Pamassus, contains references to Shakespeare and Richard Burbage.

1603
Walter Raleigh imprisoned.
Queen Elizabeth dies.
James I arrives in London.
Henslowe ends his Diary.
Monteverdi's Madrigals, Bk.4, published.
Shakespeare exhorted to write honouring the memory of Queen Elizabeth by Henry Chettle in his poem,
Englandes Mourning Garment.

1604
Earl of Oxford dies. (born. 1550).
25 volumes of Lope da Vega's plays published.
James I's Counterblast to Tobacco published.

1605
The Gunpowder Plot.
Bacon's The Advancement of Learning published.
Guy Fawkes arrested.
Cervantes' Don Quixote (pt.I) published.
Monteverdi's Madrigals (Bk.5) published.
Shakespeare's name appears on title-page of The London Prodigal.

1606
John Lyly dies (born 1554).
Guy Fawkes sentenced to death.
Corneille b. ( d. 1684).
William Davenant born (died 1688).
Rembrandt born (died 1669).

1607
Colonization of Virginia.
The Great Frost.
Thomas Deloney dies (born 1543).
Cyril Tourneur's The Revenger's Tragedy published.
Founding of Jamestown, Virginia.

1608
John Milton born (died 1674)
Ga1i1eo constructs astronomical telescope.

1609
Henry Hudson explores Delaware and Hudson rivers.

1610
Ben Jonson's The Alchemist published.
Caravaggio dies (born 1579).
Thomas Herriott discovers sunspots.
Galileo observes Jupiter's satellites.
Hudson discovers Hudson's Bay.

1611
Chapman's translation of The llliad completed.
Authorized version of Bible published.
Henry Hudson dies.

1612
Fulke Greville's Life of the Renowned Sir Philip Sidney published.
John Webster's The White Devil published.
Tobacco planted in Virginia.

1613
Webster's The Duchess of Malfi first performed.
Francis Bacon is Attorney-General.
Globe Theatre burns down during performance of Henry VIII.
Chapman explores part of Ottawa River .

1614
Thomas Overbury's Characters published. Webster's The Duchess of Malfi published.
Raleigh's History of the World published. Jonson's Bartholomew Fair published.
El Greco dies (born 1541). Block explores Long Island Sound.
Pocahontas marries John Rolfe.

1615
Cervantes' Don Quixote (pt.2) published. Chapman completes translation of the Odyssey.
Galileo faces Inquisition.

1616
Raleigh goes in search of El Dorado. Collected Folio edition of Jonson's works published.
William Baffin discovers Baffin Bay.

1617
Ben Jonson is Poet Laureate. Raleigh reaches Orinoco River mouth.
Walter Raleigh dies (born 1552). Pocahontas dies (born 1595).

1619
First negro slaves arrive in Virginia.

1620
Pilgrim Fathers land at New Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Bacon's Novum Organum published.

1621
Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy published.

1623
First English settlement in New Hampshire.