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Manuscript mention of Shakespeare in his lifetime

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October 6, 1600
Exchequer, Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer, Pipe Rolls, naming William Shakespeare as a tax defaulter in 1600
Lay subsidies were a type of tax based on personal wealth. In London, the collection of subsidies was managed at the local level of ward and parish.
ca. 1600-1615
Edward Pudsey's Commonplace book [portions]: containing first known manuscript quotations from Shakespeare's plays
SHAKESPEARE DOCUMENTED IS STILL GROWING! Descriptive content and transcriptions will continue to be added, updated and expanded. Check back for regular updates!
1598- 1601
Pilgrimage to Parnassus and Return from Parnassus: multiple references to Shakespeare
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October 10, 1601
Updated deed of transfer of the Globe and other properties from Nicholas Brend to Sir Matthew Brown and John Collett, listing William Shakespeare
Dated October 10, 1601, this is the second of five enrolled indentures of bargain and sale for the Globe site, naming William Shakespeare as a leasee. The Globe playhouse was first built in 1599 on land leased from Sir Nicholas Brend.
1601
Francis Davison notes "W. Shakespeare" in manuscript "Catalog of the Poems contayned in Englands Helicon" in preparation for editing A Poetical Rhapsody
SHAKESPEARE DOCUMENTED IS STILL GROWING! Descriptive content and transcriptions will continue to be added, updated and expanded. Check back for regular updates!
October 7, 1601
Deed of transfer of the Globe and other properties from Nicholas Brend to Sir Matthew Brown and John Collett, listing "William Shackspeare gent.”
Dated October 7, 1601, this is the first of five enrolled indentures of bargain and sale for the Globe site, naming William Shakespeare as a leasee. The Globe playhouse was first built in 1599 on land leased from Sir Nicholas Brend.
March 25, 1601
Thomas Whittington includes in his will a debt owing to him of 40 shillings "in the hand of Anne Shaxspere wyf unto Mr Wyllyam Shaxspere"
Thomas Whittington, a shepherd living in Shottery, made his will on March 25, 1601, signing by mark. He was buried on April 19, 1601 and his will was proved ten days later.
February 2 and March 13, 1602
John Manningham's Diary: earliest mention of Twelfth Night and a Shakespeare anecdote
The earliest mention of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is in a notebook of gossip, observations and sermon notes kept by John Manningham while a law student at Middle Temple, one of the Inns of Court in London.
1602
Shakespeare purchases New Place: 1602 foot of fine
This is the foot of fine, one of the three copies of the final concord ratifying Shakespeare’s purchase of New Place in 1602. It has been filed with other Warwickshire “feet” among the records of the Court of Common Pleas since 1602.
begun May 28, 1602
Contemporary copy of armorial by William Smith, Rouge Dragon, including Shakespeare’s coat of arms twice, as “W[illia]m Shakespare" and "W[illia]m Shackspare"
SHAKESPEARE DOCUMENTED IS STILL GROWING! Descriptive content and transcriptions will continue to be added, updated and expanded. Check back for regular updates!

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