CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE. 2 Eldest son of John 1564. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE born April 23. 1 year old, 1565. John Shakespeare elected one of the fourteen aldermen of 3 5 6 7 Stratford-upon-Avon. 1566. William's brother Gilbert baptized October 13. Here was an early-sent object to awaken ideas of protecting love in the two-year-old child. 1567. John Shakespeare in good circumstances; owner of a copyhold tenement in Henley Street since 1556. Contributed, with others of his borough, towards the relief of the poor during the visitation of the plague in Stratford in 1564. 1568. John Shakespeare received the highest distinction in the power of his fellow-townsmen to bestow; being elected Bailiff of Stratford-upon-Avon. He held the office, as was usual, from Michaelmas to Michaelmas; and was, ex officio, a magistrate. 1569. William's sister Joan baptized April 15; an aunt Joan standing godmother. This was a sister of Mary (Arden) Shakespeare; and had married Edward Lambert. Theatrical performances in Stratford by "the Queen's Players." 1570. John Shakespeare was in possession of a field called Ingon Meadow. Here may Shakespeare have first run about to gather "daisies pied and violets blue,"—a summer butterflies." boy pursuing 1571. William's sister Anne baptized September 28. Probably his commencement as "schoolboy, with satchel and shining morning face;" but hardly "creeping like snail unwillingly to school." 8 IO years old, 1572. The masters of the free grammar-school at Stratford between 1570 and 1578, were, successively, Walter Roche, Thomas Hunt, and Thomas Jenkins. The two former may have been the prototypes of Pinch and Holofernes; the latter, of Sir Hugh Evans. 1573. William's brother Richard baptized March 11. As his family increased, so increased John Shakespeare's means of supporting them, up to this time. 1574. John Shakespeare purchased of Edmund and Emma Hall, two freehold houses, with gardens and orchards, in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, for the sum of £40. Gradual declension of John Shakespeare's circumstances in the course of these three years. 1578. John Shakespeare, at a borough hall meeting, permitted to 1579. John and Mary Shakespeare · 1580. William's brother Edmund 17 1581. Theatrical performances in two companies of players. These three might have been universities, or one of the inns of court. During 1582. A "preliminary bond" to the solemnization of these seven 1583. William Shakespeare's first child, Susanna, at the gram baptized May 26. 1584. Three companies of actors performed at Strat ford. Burbage, Greene, Slye, Heminge, and 1585. William's twin boy and girl, His desire to provide for his increasing family, his own mar-school; or as a law. yer's clerk. 22 years old, 1586. The year of the imputed deer-stealing prank in Sir Thomas John Shakespeare ceased to William left Stratford-upon 23 24 1587. 1588. 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Lucy's grounds of Charlcote. No record of these two years. Probably engaged in qualify- 1589. William Shakespeare a sharer in the Blackfriars Theatre. 1591. Spenser's laudatory allusion to Shakespeare as a dramatist, 1592. Plague in London. Suspension of dramatic performances. Probable period of Shakespeare's possible visit to Italy. Robert Greene's attack upon Shakespeare, posthumously produced by Henry Chettle; who subsequently made apology in his "Kind-heart's Dream." 1593. First edition of "Venus and Adonis" published under the Author's direction by a printer named Richard Field,— said to have been a Stratford man. Building of the Globe Theatre commenced by the leader of the company of actors, Richard Burbage, December 22. 1594. First edition of "Lucrece" brought out at Field's press. Spenser's second tribute to Shakespeare, in his poem of "Colin Clout's Come Home Again." Probable period of Lord Southampton's alleged gift of £1000 to Shakespeare. 1595. Probable period of the opening of the Globe Theatre on the Bankside, the spring of this year. The performances usually took place at three o'clock in the afternoon; and, being open to the air, the theatre served for summer represen tations. 1596. Petition of the Player-sharers (Shakespeare's name fifth on to his father. 1597. John and Mary Shakespeare filed a bill in Chancery to recover their mortgaged estate of Asbyes; the mortgagee's son refusing to yield it. William's aid in redeeming his mother's inheritance. His purchase of "New Place," also called the "The Great House," at Stratford: bringing his father and mother home there. 1598. Ben Jonson's comedy, "Every Man in his Humour," first acted, through Shakespeare's influence. Letter from Richard Quiney to Shakespeare, requesting the loan of £30. 35 years old, 1599. 36 1600. 37 38 39 No record, these two years: but before then had appeared his Two Gen. of V., Love's L. L., Tam. of S., Three Parts of Hen. VI., Titus A., Mids. N. D., Hamlet, Rich. II., Rich. III., Two Parts Hen. IV., Rom. and Jul., King John, Hen. V., As You Like It, Mer. of V., All's Well, Much Ado, and Merry Wives. The first edition (separate 4to) of Love's L. L., Rich. II., Rich. III., Rom. and Jul., Two Parts Hen. IV., Hen. V., Much Ado, Mids. N. D., and Mer. of V. had been printed. 1601. John Shakespeare buried September 8. Thomas Whittington, an old shepherd (possible prototype of Corin, "the natural philospher,") long in the employ of Richard Hathaway, died; leaving in his will a bequest of 40s. to the poor of Stratford, which sum he had placed in the hands of his old master's daughter, Anne Shakespeare. Patent granted by James I. to William Shakespeare and his company of players, to perform at the Globe Theatre and elsewhere, May 17 (Shakespeare's name second on the list.) Bought 107 acres of land, at Stratford, for £320, adjoining his dwelling. Also became owner of a copyhold tenement there. 1602. 1603. Additional purchase of land at Stratford, for £60. Letter of Mrs Alleyn (wife to Edward Alleyn, the actor, and founder of Dulwich College) dated October 20; telling her husband that she had seen "Mr Shakespeare of the Globe," in Southwark; where he had a house since 1596; and where he dwelt when in the metropolis. 1604. Probable period of Shakespeare's retirement from the stage as an actor. The withdrawal of his prudence and discretion in counsel, was adverse to the company. His control and presence ceasing, the ill effects were felt. 1605. Investment of £440 in the purchase of a lease of tithes in Stratford, July 24; described in the indenture as "William Shakespeare, of Stratford-upon-Avon, gentleman." A fellow-actor's (Augustine Phillips) bequest of a gold piece worth 30s. to Shakespeare. 1606. No record: but in the interval since the commencement of the century, Troilus and Cr., Othello, Tw. Night, Henry VIII., M. for M., Com. of E., Lear, and Macbeth, had appeared. 1607. Susanna Shakespeare married to Dr John Hall, June 5. Edmund Shakespeare buried December 31, at St Saviour's, Southwark. 1608. Shakespeare a grandfather; by the birth of Susanna's child, Elizabeth, baptized February 21. Mary Shakespeare buried September 9; probably carried from her son's house to her grave, and breathing her last in his arms. Known to be in Stratford that autumn; stood godfather to a boy named William Walker, October 16. |