TIMELINE 1584-1623 SHAKESPEARE AND NEVILLE
This time line starts after Henry Neville’s return from four years travelling round Europe with his tutor, Henry Savile. They returned in 1582. In 1583 Neville, aged 21, travelled to Scotland from August to October with Walsingham and the young Earl of Essex. Neville became a J.P. and Elizabeth I sent Ambrose, the Earl of Warwick, brother of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, down to Mayfield to discipline Neville on his export of ordnance (James & Rubinstein, 2004, 90). William Shakspere was in Stratford, having married in 1582 (aged 18) and baptised his daughter Susanna in 1583. (Where a play title is listed I am suggesting the earliest date of writing: if it is a publication date I write “published/printed”.)
Date 1584 1585 1586 1587 1588 Shakspere, the actor 2nd Feb: The twins, ‘Willielmo from Stratford Hamnet and Judith, Shackespere’ in a baptised in Stratford. legal action over land. Shakespeare, the writer Other works, Mucedorus *Look About You 1 Arden of Faversham Locrine co-written Edmund Ironside possibly by the bard (L/C references) (L/C references) (L/C reference) with George Peele? Events Leicester’s Trial of Mary Queen Execution of Mary The Spanish Armada Commonwealth of Scots. Queen of Scots. defeated. (L/C ) published. Philip Sidney dies. Neville’s life and Neville becomes an Neville copies L/C in Henry Neville 4 th Holinshed’s Neville becomes MP family. M.P.; marries Anne Worsley MSS 47. Baron of Chronicles published: for Sussex. Charles Killigrew; meets Sir Edmund Neville, Abergavenny Neville’s father-in- Neville, 6 th Earl of Henry Wriothesley (at denounced William (Neville’s uncle) is law, Henry Killigrew, Westmoreland, is one some time 1583-85); Parry who was one of the peers who is one of the editors . of the leaders of an his father (with Ralph executed. Edmund try Mary Queen of invasion force at the Sadler) has custody of was imprisoned in the Scots. time of the Spanish Mary Queen of Scots. Tower for 13 years. Armada.
1 Plays including a character named Falconbridge (a Neville family name) are marked with *. 1589 1590 1591 1592 1593 1594 Willelmus Performs before the Shackspere in Queen at Greenwich London: loans John on December 28 th . Clayton £ 7 (see 1600). *The Troublesome Henry VI part 2 *Henry VI part 1 Edward III; Venus and Adonis Rape of Lucrece Raigne of John King (The First Part of the Two Gentlemen of published (registered published as by of England : possibly Contention ) Verona, Richard III . in April) by William Shakespeare; co-written with *Henry VI part 3 William Shakespeare Henry VI part 2 George Peele. performed. *Henry VI part 1 FIRST USE OF and Titus Andonicus performed. THIS NAME. co-written with Peele published anonymously. Comedy of Errors performed at Gray’s Inn, December 28 th . The Phaeton Sonnet; Arden of Faversham Taming of A Shrew *Troublesome Raigne published published of John published anonymously. anonymously. anonymously. Thomas of Woodstock Theatres reopen. In The Troublesome Greene’s attack on Marlowe killed. Guy First mention by Raigne Falconbridge ‘Shake-scene’ Earl of Warwick by another author of refers to Phaeton; (actually by Chettle). B. J. lampoons Shake-speare, in Shakespeare refers to Plague closes the ‘Sparrow’ from Willobye His Avisa Phaeton in the 1590s. theatres until 1594. Stratford upon Avon. referring to Lucrece . Neville becomes MP Henry Killigrew Neville’s father dies. for Sussex. attends Earl of Essex Neville MP for New in France. Windsor. 1595 1596 1597 1598 1599 1600 First written record of Hamnet dies. Applies Buys New Place in Hoarding grain in a Willelmum William Shackspere ‘Willm Shakespeare’ for coat of arms. Stratford for £ 60. famine. Quiney’s Shakespeare goes to court for a as an actor, the only W. Wayte accuses Listed as tax defaulter letter requesting a shareholder of the debt of £7 (Clayton, recorded payment to Shakspare of in Bishopsgate, loan (never posted). Globe Theatre. 1592) and is referred him as such . threatening him. London. Paid for load of stone. Shakspeare owes tax. to as a tax defaulter. The True Tragedy of The Raigne of King Richard II , Richard Richard III Q2 and Much Ado About *Merchant of Venice, Richard Duke of York Edward III published III and Romeo and Richard II published Nothing , *Henry V, Henry IV (* Henry VI part 3) anonymously. Juliet published as by William Shake- As You Like It, Part 2, Much Ado published *King John anonymously. speare; *Love’s Julius Caesar . About Nothing and A anonymously. *Merchant of Venice Labours Lost as by Thomas Platter Midsummer Night’s W. Shakespere: records a performance Dream published. *Love’s Labours Lost FIRST PLAYS TO BE of Julius Caesar in Twelfth Night tells of written 1594-5? INDENTIFIED AS BY September. Count Orsino. SHAKESPEARE. Henry IV part 1 published anonymously. Locrine published as Mucedorus published *Look About You by W. S. anonymously. published anonymously. The Northumberland Barnfield praises Globe theatre opens. Neville’s secretary Manuscript, owned Shakespeare’s poetry Weever’s epigramme Winwood tells him by Neville, lists in his Poems in 22 addressed to Orsino is coming to Richard II and III , Diverse Humours . ‘Honey-Tongued London in a letter quotes from Lucrece Francis Meres lists Shakespeare’. dated 20 th November. and names William Shakespeare’s plays John Shakespeare’s Shakespeare. in Palladis Tamia . coat of arms granted. Neville made Deputy Neville becomes MP Neville sells his iron Neville ambassador in Neville returns to Lieutenant, Berkshire. for Liskeard. works. France. His son dies. England in August. 1601 1602 1603 1604 1605 1606 His father dies. Pays £ 320 for land Is named as an actor Rents Lodgings with Invests £ 440 in Thomas Whittington and buys a cottage. in James I’s royal Mountjoys in Silver Stratford parish tithes; records in his will The grant of a coat of patent creating the Street; listed as a Augustine Phillips, that Shakespeare arms to John King’s Men player in accounts for actor, leaves him 30s owes him 40 Shakespeare is and in Jonson’s play the coronation in gold in his will to shillings. Is listed as a challenged. Sejanus cast list. procession; sues his “fellow William tenant of the Globe. apothecary and sells Shakespeare”. malt in Stratford. Hamlet Troilus and Cressida , Measure for Measure . Alls Well That Ends Timon of Athens, Macbeth , Antony and The Phoenix and the Othello (- 1604). Troilus and Cressida Well; King Lear. Cleopatra. Turtle published in Merry Wives registered. Measure for Measure King Lear performed Loves Martyr as by registered 18 th Hamlet published. performed at court 26 th December. William Shakespeare. January; Hamlet Sir Thomas More : December 26 th . registered 26 th July. Hand D A Yorkshire Tragedy The Earl of Essex’s Elizabeth I dies. Southampton, Neville Gunpowder plot. unsuccessful James I comes to the and Lord Danvers rebellion: he is tried throne. Southampton arrested on rumours and executed. Earl of dedicates a defence of of a plot on 24 th June Southampton Richard III to Neville: but released next day. imprisoned. he refers to “playes”. Neville tried and Edward Neville born: Neville and Neville elected M.P. Neville awarded M.A First London Virginia imprisoned in the was Anne the mother Southampton released and -1606, serves on at Oxford. James I is Company founded: Tower. of an illegitimate son? in April. committee concerned present. They hear Neville and Did Neville have Southampton stages with illegitimate Tres Sibyllae by M. Southampton are reason to be jealous? *Love’s Labours Lost children 2. Gwynne which refers members of the Another son dies. for Queen Anne. to Macbeth. council.
2 In both King Lear and A Yorkshire Tragedy , both of which fall into this period, the legitimacy of children is an important issue.
1607 1608 1609 1610 1611 1612 His brother, Edmund Mother dies; owes Continues litigation Buys 20 acres of land Acts to protect his Testifies in Belott vs Shakespeare, “a £ 20 and is owed £6; for the debt of £ 6 near Stratford. real estate interests Mountjoy and signs a player” buried 31 st Blackfriars theatre against John against default. Pays deposition as December at St. Mary sharer; godfather to a Addenbroke. to improve Stratford “William Shackp”: Overy, Southwark. Stratford mercers son. roads. his first signature. Coriolanus, Pericles King Lear published. The Sonnets, Troilus A Winter’s Tale The Tempest Cardenio/Double Pericles and Antony and Cressida and Falshood and Henry and Cleopatra Pericles published. VIII co-written with registered. Cymbeline Fletcher. Yorkshire Tragedy Fletcher writes The “Cardenno ” registered as by Tamer Tamed : the performed at court “Wylliam only sequel to a during Christmas. Shakespere”; quarto Shakespeare play states it was written (The Taming of The by “W. Shakspeare”. Shrew ). Susanna Shaxspere Second London Strachey letter Ben Jonson’s epigram Beaumont retired in marries physician Virginia Company (SLVC) was a source addressed to Neville. 1612-13 to Kent. John Hall. (SLVC) given royal for The Tempest . John Davies calls charter: Southampton Beaumont & Fletcher Shakespeare “a and Neville investors. write A King and No companion for a King (see 1619). king”. In Parliament Neville James I visits Neville “Henry Nevil poet” Neville had access to Neville is a possible In Henry VIII 3 there is speaks of the union of whilst having is encoded in the the Strachey letter. candidate to become a masque: Sir Edward Scotland + England, problems with his dedication to the June: marriages of 2 Secretary of State. Neville was disguised and mentions RIII. own writing. Shakespeare sonnets. daughters. in the real event.
3 Overbury and Rochester codename Neville ‘Similis’ because he looked like Henry VIII (Somerset, 1997, 90), as did Sir Edward Neville, his grandfather. Neville lived at Wolsey’s mansion in Mayfield from 1589. The masque in Henry VIII is in at Wolsey’s house.
1613 1614 1615 1616 7 years gap 1623 Buys Blackfriars As a landowner seeks John Combe, William Shakspere gatehouse and signs to enclose pastures in moneylender, leaves signs his will 3 times 5 deed/mortgage 4. Earl Welcombe. Shackspere £ 5. and dies, is buried on of Rutland pays for Legal cases about the April 25 th . an impresa. gatehouse + theatres. Two Noble Kinsmen 1622 Othello First Folio printed: based on Chaucer’s published. 36 plays, 18 of which Knight’s Tale co- had never been written with Fletcher. published before. Cardenio performed The Famous History 1619 Two Noble One of the compilers again on June 8 th of George Lord Kinsmen performed at of the First Folio was 1613 for Ambassador Fauconbridge court. Ben Jonson. of Savoy. published (anon): June 29 th the Globe Edmund Howes lists this Fauconbridge is 1619: A King and No Ben Jonson is living burned down during Willi Shakespeare as illegitimate, son of King (Beaumont and at Gresham College, Henry VIII . Overbury a poet in Stow’s Richard Lionheart, Fletcher) printed with which was founded imprisoned in the Annales . and brought up by the dedicatory epistle to by Neville’s great Tower and dies. Queen of the fairies. Sir Henry Neville. uncle. Neville was related to Sir William Herbert Neville reported to Falconbridge was a First Folio dedicated Chaucer. He knew supported Neville in have died on July Neville family name to William Herbert 3 rd Overbury and Two Parliament (cousin of 10 th . used repeatedly by Earl of Pembroke. Noble Kinsmen Neville’s chief backer Shakespeare, reflects on his plight. in Privy Council, beginning with Look Neville travels to the William Herbert 3 rd About You : see 1585. Netherlands. Earl of Pembroke).
4 The two signatures on the Blackfriars deed and mortgage are: “William Shaksper” and “Wm Shakspea”. 5 The three signatures on the will are: “William Shackspere”, “Willm. Shakspere” and “By me William Shakespeare”: the last may be by a different hand.
Principal Sources:
Casson, J. (2009) Enter Pursued by a Bear, The Unknown Plays of Shakespeare-Neville, London, Music for Strings
Casson, J. (2010) Much Ado About Noting, Henry Neville and Shakespeare’s Secret Source, Dolman Scott
Donaldson, I. (2011) Ben Jonson A Life, Oxford University Press
James, B & Rubinstein, W.D. (2005) The Truth Will Out: Unmasking The Real Shakespeare, Harlow, Pearson Longman
James, B. (2008) Henry Neville and the Shakespeare Code, Bognor Regis, Music for Strings
Michell, J. (2000) Who Wrote Shakespeare? London, Thames & Hudson
Price, D. (2001) Shakespeare’s Unorthodox Biography: New Evidence of an Authorship Problem London, Greenwood Press
Somerset, A. (1997) Unnatural Murder, Poison at the Court of James I, London, Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Williams R. (2006) Sweet Swan of Avon, Did a Woman Write Shakespeare? Berkeley, CA, Wilton Circle Press
Winwood, R. (1725) Memorials of State in the reigns of Q. Elizabeth and K. James, Volume 1, London, T. Ward
John Casson, 2010-12