After receiving a royal charter in 1553, Stratford-upon-Avon was given the right to hold its own Court of Record. This court heard civils claims under the value of £30 and enforced a swift resolution of business disputes. One case was brought by Thomas Such against John Shakespeare when he attempted to recover £8 10s from […]Continue reading
On 11 June 1592, the Lord Mayor wrote to Lord Burghley, Lord High Treasurer, about riots in Southwark. A mob of apprentices, motivated in part by resentment against immigrants, had rioted outside the public playhouses. Shortly after the riot, the Privy Council ordered ‘that there be no plays used in any place near thereabouts, as […]Continue reading
The Sea Venture was part of a fleet making a third voyage to Jamestown, the new colony in Virginia. It left England on 2 June 1609 with supplies and colonists bound for the new world. About six weeks into their ill-fated journey, and only a week away from their destination, the Sea Venture was separated […]Continue reading
Church records at Holy Trinity Stratford record the baptismal of William and Anne Shakespeare’s first child, Susanna on 26 May 1583. She was born only six months after her parents’ wedding! In fact, her existence was the reason for their hasty marriage. William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway needed a special marriage license which would speed the process […]Continue reading
What was an astrologer’s verdict of The Winter’s Tale in 1611? Simon Forman was an Elizabethan astrologer and mathematician who promoted himself as a medical practitioner in early modern England. He was also an enthusiastic playgoer and made detailed notes on the performances he had seen at the Globe and other playhouses around London. On […]Continue reading
When Stratford-upon-Avon’s burgesses were elected to office, they were entitled to send their children to be educated at the local Grammar School free of charge. As the son of a burgess, William Shakespeare would have enrolled at New King’s Grammar School to embark on a study of Latin authors between the ages of seven and […]Continue reading
Welcome to Shakespeare’s World blog! The only blog dedicated to exploring Shakespeare’s life and works in historical context. We’ll be exploring key events in Shakespeare’s life as well as his immediate and extended family. Some of the questions we will ask are: How did Shakespeare get a free education? Was Shakespeare a ‘jack-of-all-trades’? What was […]Continue reading
