Raphael Holinshed, The... Chronicles, 1587, Vol.3, title page.
The account of English history that Shakespeare read.
Holinshed embarked on revision of the Chronicles, but died in 1580, leaving his notes to be used by the men whose names appeared in the printer's ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - A corpse awaits burial, p.89r, detail.
A body in its linen burial cloth, or shroud, and laid in a tomb: a possible source for Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare, in 1605, purchased an interest in the local tithes, and so automatically became ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Animals woodcut, p.81r.
An ornamental woodcut, on a text contemporary with Shakespeare.
Among the many woodcut ornaments in Richard Day’s book of prayers is a distinctive group of animals which include a mythical unicorn, ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Baptism woodcut,, p.61v. detail
An Infant Baptism: Shakespeare was baptised 23 April 1564.
William Shakespeare, the first boy, but third child of John and Mary Shakespeare, was baptised in the local parish church of Stratford-upon-Avon ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Bear and ragged staff woodcut. Detail, p.84r, Y4r.
Printer's border ornament with bear and ragged staff, symbol of Shakespeare's county.
The chained bear and its ragged staff were part of the emblem of the earls of Warwick, and remain to this day, ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Christian duty p.53v, detail.
Homilies : life-style advised for Shakespeare and his contemporaries.
All children would accompany their parents to church each Sunday, where they would hear the readings from the Bible, and also the ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Communion woodcut, p.62r, detail.
Holy Communion: a church service attended by all Elizabethans.
This woodcut shows the distribution of wine and bread at Holy Communion to the congregation at the altar. It was the duty of all confirmed ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Confessional prayer, p.56v.
The Christian life to be followed by Elizabethans.
This prayer asks for forgiveness of sins and is flanked by flowers, a quotation and a woodcut on the sense of smell. Smells, both pleasant and unpleasant, ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Feed the Hungry woodcut, p.72v.
Charity: feeding the poor in Shakespeare's time.
All communities had their share of the poor and Elizabethans would regularly offer their unwanted ‘left-over’ food to those less fortunate ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Help the thirsty woodcut p.73r detail
Drinks available in Shakespeare's time.
The regular drink of Elizabethans was cider, ale (which was not strong beer), or for the more wealthy, wine was imported from France, or Germany. Water was used ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - infant woodcut detail, p.100v.
Infant mortality: Shakespeare's older sisters died young.
William's two older sisters both died in infancy. For Elizabethans the death of a child was a common occurrence. William's younger brothers, ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Instruction woodcut, detail, p.66v.
Boys at school: Shakespeare's education.
There is no direct evidence that Shakespeare attended the Grammar School in Stratford, but as the son of a prominent citizen of the town, William and his brothers ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Life and death, p.122v.
Death in everyday life in Shakespeare's time.
Life and death went hand-in-hand everywhere in Shakespeare’s England, where medical knowledge was very limited, and most illness depended on traditional ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Momento mori woodcut, p.89v, detail.
A possible source for the Capulet tomb.
The end of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet takes place in the Capulet family tomb where the apparently dead Juliet has been laid. Such places had a ghostly reputation, ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Momento mori woodcuts, p.89v.
The everyday presence of death in Shakespeare's England.
Much of Richard Day’s prayerbook has illustrations which remind readers of the everyday presence of death in the 16th century. ‘Thou ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Prayers for family use, p.61v.
The Shakespeare family in Elizabethan England.
Richard Day's popular book of prayers intended for personal use by Elizabethans, was re-published several times after it was first printed in 1578. Its ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Prayers for our enemies, p.54r.
Life-style advice for Shakespeare and his contemporaries.
Many of Day’s marginal woodcuts included scripture quotations and advice on lifestyle, such as ministering to the sick.
Full title: ...
Richard Day, A Booke of Christian prayers..., 1581 - Prayers for private use, p.62r.
Personal confessions: available to Shakespeare's contemporaries.
Richard Day’s book of prayers was a very popular book owned by many of Shakespeare’s contemporaries. The prayers printed ...