Shakspere Chronology - 1605 to 1608

Allusion = E. K. Chambers, ed., The Shakspere Allusion-Book, 2 volumes (Oxford University Press, London: 1932 reprint)
EP = R[obert] A[llot], ed., Englands Parnassus (1600, reprint, Da Capo Press, New York:1970)
EKC = E. K. Chambers, William Shakespeare: A Study of the Facts and Problems, 2 volumes (Clarendon Press, Oxford: 1930)
Furnivall = F. J. Furnivall, "Sir John Harington's Shakspeare Quartos," Notes and Queries, 7th Series, IX, May 17, 1890, p. 382.
Helicon = Hyder Edward Rollins, ed., England's Helicon, 2 volumes, 1600, 1614 (1935)
HP = J. O. Halliwell-Phillips, Outlines of the Life of Shakespeare, 7th edition,
2 volumes (Longmans, Green, and Co., London: 1887)
Poems = F.T. Prince, ed., The Arden Shakespeare: The Poems (1960)
SS = Samuel Schoenbaum, William Shakespeare: A Documentary Life (Oxford University Press, New York:1975)
SS2 = Samuel Schoenbaum, William Shakespeare: Records and Images (1981)
Wallace = Charles William Wallace, "New Light on Shakespeare" (Part 2), The Times (London), May 1, 1914, p. 4.
Warner = George Frederic Warner, Catalogue of the Manuscripts and Muniments of Alleyn's College of God's Gift at Dulwich (1881)

[Forms of the name "William Shakspere" or "William Shakespeare" always appear in bold. Only authorship-related items are numbered. Items in brackets refer the reader to the date the document was actually created. Documents that refer back to earlier documents no longer extant give the earlier date in parentheses. When the date is uncertain but spans a number of years, the item is listed under the earliest date. Dating issues are discussed with each item. In many cases, purely legal Latin texts and mundane business transactions are not quoted in full. Only the first issuance of a Quarto is noted. For a complete list, see Quartos.]

***1605 Revels Accounts of plays performed at Court in winter of 1604-05 "Shaxberd" (handwritten) (EKC II, 331; facs. SS, 200-201)

***1605 Title page, Q of The London Prodigal "William Shakespeare" (printed by Thomas Creede for Nathaniel Butter) (EKC I, 534)

***1605 (1603) From Remaines of a greater Worke concerning Britaine, by William Camden "William Shakespeare" (printed) (EKC II, 215)

***1605 May 4 The will of Augustine Phillips states: "Item I geve and bequeathe to my ffellowe william Shakespeare a Thirty shillings peece in gould" (Public Record Office, Prob. 10/Box 232). (handwritten) (EKC II, 73; facs. SS, 204)

***1605 July 24 Indenture: "For £440 he procured [from Ralph Hubaud] a half-interest in a lease of 'Tythes of Corne grayne blade & heye' in three nearby hamlets...along with the small tithes of the whole of Stratford parish, with certain exceptions honouring former rights" (@ Schoenbaum 192). (Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Records Office, MS. ER 27/2). (handwritten; Francis Collins) (EKC II, 119 (part); HP II, 19 (full); facs. SS, 193)

***1605 July 24 "A bond received from Ralph Hubaud reads: 'To William Shakspre, gentleman'. It was a bond for the performance of covenants [with respect to the indenture]" (@ Beckett 10). (Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Records Office, Misc. Doc. II, 3).

***1606 (1601) From The Returne from Parnassus, Part II "William Shakespeare" (printed) (EKC II, 201)

***1606 Inventory of Ralph Hubaud's land and goods after his death includes: "There was Owinge by Mr. Shakspre xxli" (@ Beckett 10). No mention in standard sources… Mentioned in "The Secret of Shakespeare's Doublet" by Jane W. Beckett (1977)

***1606 Aug 1 Survey of Rowington Manor; relates to Chapel Lane cottage. "Willielmus Shakespere" (handwritten) (EKC II, 112)

***1607 From Myrrha, the Mother of Adonis; or Lustes Prodegies by William Barksted:

Nor Paphos, Amathus nor fishie Gnide,
delights she now to haunt, nor Etna now
Burnes more then her, she roans the wood so wide
after her game, that to his game doth bow.
And will not heare or see, for eies and eares,
If they her heare or see, their use forbeares
Yet she persues, and leaves her power uneven
on heaven & earth, she loves him more then heaven.

Oft would she say, and bathe those words in tears
oh thou faire boy, wold God thou lovdst like me
but sure thou art not flesh, it well appeares,
thou wert the stubborne issue of a tree,
So hart thou art, then she a sigh would set,
and with that Vulcan had not made his net,
For boysterous Mars, shee'd fayner ha' bin sped
with this choice floure, claspt in her yron bed.

Shee'd nere have blusht, then she does make a vow
though al the Gods of both worlds had then seen
She raveth that she ever lov'd til now,
that she might worthily ha bin loves Queene.
wel, wel (quoth she) thou hast reveng'd the spight
which from my accurst Sons bow did fowly light
On thy faire Mother, O immortal boy,
Though thou be faire, tis I that should be coy.

But stay my Muse in thine owne confines keepe,
& wage not warre with so deere lov'd a neighbor
But having sung thy day song, rest & sleepe
preserve thy small fame and his greater favor:
His song was worthie merrit (Shakspeare hee)
sung the faire blossome, thou the withered tree
Laurell is due to him, his art and wit
hath purchast it, Cypres thy brow will fit.

(printed) (EKC II, 216)

***1607 Stationer's Register entry for King Lear "Mr. William Shakespeare" (handwritten) (EKC I, 463; facs. SS, 202)

***1608 Q1 of King Lear "M. William Shak-speare (printed for Nathaniel Butter) (EKC I, 463)

***1608 Stationer's Register entry for A Yorkshire Tragedy "Wylliam Shakespere" (handwritten) (EKC I, 535)

***1608 Title page, Q1 of A Yorkshire Tragedy "William Shakspeare" (printed by R. Bradock for Thomas Pavier) (EKC I, 535)

***1608 Nov 11 Deed transferring the Globe and other properties from John Collett to Sir Thomas Bodley. "Richard Burbadge & William Shakespeare gent" (handwritten) (Wallace)

***1608 Aug 17 Suit brought against John Addenbrooke for L6, plus 24s damages. Shakspere won and an order was issued for Addenbrooke's arrest. He failed to appear in court and apparently fled because he was not jailed. Shakspere pursued the case (until 1609 / 6 / 7) and tried to force Addenbrooke's surety, the blacksmith Thomas Horneby, to pay the full amount. "His persistence may strike moderns as heartless..." (@ Schoenbaum 184). Indeed, it is not unreasonable to ask how the "author" of The Merchant of Venice could behave in such a manner. (Shakespeare Birthplace Trust Records Office, Misc. Doc. V, 116; Misc Doc V, 139; Misc Doc V, 127a; Misc Doc V, 127b; Misc Doc V, 115; MS. ER 27/6; MS. ER 27/7). The next 7 references relate to this suit.

***1608 Dec 17 (Arrest warrant for John Addenbrooke, related to suit by Shakespeare) "Willielmo Shackspeare" (handwritten) (EKC II, 114)

***1608 Dec 21 (Precept to empanel jury for Shakespeare v. Addenbrooke) "Willielmum Shackspeare" (handwritten) (HP II, 78)

***1608 List of potential jurors in Shakespeare v. Addenbrooke "Willielmum Shakespere" (handwritten) (HP II, 78)

Mark's Commentary