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1600s 1600s may refer to: * The century from 1600 to 1699, almost synonymous with the 17th century (1601–1700). * 1600s (decade) The 1600s (pronounced "sixteen-hundreds") was a decade of the Gregorian calendar that began on 1 January 1600, and ended o ...
in
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
. This decade marks the end of the
Elizabethan era The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The Roman symbol of Britannia (a female ...
with the beginning of the
Jacobean era The Jacobean era was the period in English and Scotland, Scottish history that coincides with the reign of James VI and I, James VI of Scotland who also inherited the crown of England in 1603 as James I. The Jacobean era succeeds the Elizabeth ...
and the
Stuart period The Stuart period of British history lasted from 1603 to 1714 during the dynasty of the House of Stuart. The period was plagued by internal and religious strife, and a large-scale civil war which resulted in the Execution of Charles I, execu ...
.


Incumbents

*
Monarch A monarch () is a head of stateWebster's II New College Dictionary. "Monarch". Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest ...
Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
(until 24 March 1603), then
James I James I may refer to: People *James I of Aragon (1208–1276) * James I of Sicily or James II of Aragon (1267–1327) * James I, Count of La Marche (1319–1362), Count of Ponthieu * James I, Count of Urgell (1321–1347) *James I of Cyprus (1334� ...


Events

* 1600 ** January – In Ireland,
Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone (; – 20 July 1616) was an Irish lord and key figure of the Nine Years' War (Ireland), Nine Years' War. Known as the "Great Earl", he led the confederacy of Irish lords against the Crown, the English Crown in r ...
, renews the
Nine Years' War The Nine Years' War was a European great power conflict from 1688 to 1697 between Kingdom of France, France and the Grand Alliance (League of Augsburg), Grand Alliance. Although largely concentrated in Europe, fighting spread to colonial poss ...
against England with an invasion of
Munster Munster ( or ) is the largest of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the south west of the island. In early Ireland, the Kingdom of Munster was one of the kingdoms of Gaelic Ireland ruled by a "king of over-kings" (). Following the Nor ...
. ** 11 February–March – Clown
William Kempe William Kempe ( 1560 – 1603), commonly referred to as Will Kemp, was an English actor and dancer who specialised in comic roles. He was best known as one of the original stage actors in early dramas by William Shakespeare, and roles associa ...
("Will Kemp")
morris dance Morris dancing is a form of English folklore, English folk dance. It is based on rhythmic stepping and the execution of choreographed figures by a group of dancers in costume, usually wearing bell pads on their shins, their shoes or both. A ban ...
s from London to
Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of the county of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. It lies by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. The population of the Norwich ...
. ** c. April – Publication of
Ben Jonson Benjamin Jonson ( 11 June 1572 – ) was an English playwright, poet and actor. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence on English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours; he is best known for the satire, satirical ...
's play ''
Every Man out of His Humour ''Every Man out of His Humour'' (also spelled ''Humor'' in some early editions) is a satirical comedy play written by English playwright Ben Jonson, acted in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain's Men. The play The play is a conceptual sequel to his 15 ...
'' in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
; it goes through three editions this year. ** 26 July – The original
Banbury Cross Banbury is an historic market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. The parish had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census. Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding ...
is demolished on the orders of a Puritan local corporation. ** 31 December –
East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
granted a
Royal Charter A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...
. **
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
's plays ''
Henry IV, Part 2 ''Henry IV, Part 2'' is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. It is the third part of a tetralogy, preceded by '' Richard II'' and ''Henry IV, Part 1'' and succeeded by '' Henry V''. The p ...
'', ''
Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (1216–1281 ...
'', ''
The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...
'', ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a Comedy (drama), comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One s ...
'' and ''
Much Ado About Nothing ''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' (W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. ...
'' are published in London. ** William Gilbert publishes ''
De Magnete ''De Magnete, Magneticisque Corporibus, et de Magno Magnete Tellure'' (''On the Magnet and Magnetic Bodies, and on That Great Magnet the Earth'') is a scientific work published in 1600 by the English physician and scientist William Gilbert. A hi ...
'' in London, discussing
Earth's magnetic field Earth's magnetic field, also known as the geomagnetic field, is the magnetic field that extends from structure of Earth, Earth's interior out into space, where it interacts with the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from ...
, one of the first important scientific works to be published in England. **
Caister Castle Caister Castle is a 15th-century moated castle situated in the parish of West Caister, some north of the town of Great Yarmouth in the English county of Norfolk (). The castle had a 100 ft (33 m) high tower and was built between 1432 and ...
falls into ruin. * 1601 ** 7–8 January –
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (; 10 November 1565 – 25 February 1601) was an English nobleman and a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during th ...
, stages a short-lived rebellion against
Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
. ** 25 February – Essex is executed for treason, becoming the last person beheaded on
Tower Green Tower Green is a space within the Tower of London, a royal castle in London, where two English people, English Queen consort, Queens consort and several other British nobility, British nobles were Capital punishment, executed by Decapitation, b ...
in the
Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...
, the sword being wielded by
Thomas Derrick Thomas Derrick () was an English executioner during the Elizabethan Era.A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, Francis Grose Derrick served as a sailor in the Royal Navy during the Anglo-Spanish war and under the command of Robert Devereux ...
. ** 22 April – The first expedition of the
East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
, having set out from
Woolwich Woolwich () is a town in South London, southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The district's location on the River Thames led to its status as an important naval, military and industrial area; a role that was mainta ...
on 13 February, sets sail from
Torbay Torbay is a unitary authority with a borough status in the ceremonial county of Devon, England. It is governed by Torbay Council, based in the town of Torquay, and also includes the towns of Paignton and Brixham. The borough consists of ...
for the
Spice Islands In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for ...
with John Davis as pilot-major. ** Spring – Possible first performance of Shakespeare's tragedy ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
'' in London. ** September 19 -
4th Spanish Armada The Fourth Spanish Armada, also known as the Last Armada, was a military expedition sent to Ireland that took place between August 1601 and March 1602 towards the end of Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604), Anglo-Spanish war. The armada – the fou ...
makes landfall in Southern Ireland - Spanish troops take and hold Kinsale.( Anglo-Spanish war and
Nine Years' War (Ireland) The Nine Years' War (May 1593 – 30 March 1603) was a conflict in Ireland between a confederacy of Irish lords (with Spanish support) and the English-led government. The war was primarily a response to the ongoing Tudor conquest of Ireland, ...
) ** 2 October–3 January 1602 –
Siege of Kinsale The siege of Kinsale (), also known as the battle of Kinsale, was the ultimate battle in England's conquest of Gaelic Ireland, commencing in October 1601, near the end of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and at the climax of the Nine Years' War� ...
. ** November – Elizabeth I addresses her final parliament with the
Golden Speech The Golden Speech was delivered by Queen Elizabeth I of England in the Palace Council Chamber to 141 Members of the Commons (including the Speaker), on 30 November 1601. It was a speech that was expected to address some pricing concerns, based on ...
. ** An Act for the Relief of the Poor codifies the
English Poor Laws The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief in England and Wales that developed out of the codification of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws in 1587–1598. The system continued until the modern welfare state emerged in the late 1940s. En ...
. * 1602 ** 2 February (
Candlemas Candlemas, also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ, the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Feast of the Holy Encounter, is a Christian holiday, Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of ...
night) – First recorded performance of Shakespeare's comedy ''
Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Viola an ...
'', in Middle Temple Hall,
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. ** 3–4 October –
Battle of the Narrow Seas The Battle of the Narrow Seas, also known as the Battle of the Goodwin Sands or Battle of the Dover Straits was a naval engagement that took place on 3–4 October 1602 during the Anglo-Spanish War (1585), Anglo-Spanish War of 1585 and part of ...
: an English fleet pursues six Spanish
galley A galley is a type of ship optimised for propulsion by oars. Galleys were historically used for naval warfare, warfare, Maritime transport, trade, and piracy mostly in the seas surrounding Europe. It developed in the Mediterranean world during ...
s through the
Strait of Dover The Strait of Dover or Dover Strait, historically known as the Dover Narrows, is the strait at the narrowest part of the English Channel, marking the boundary between the Channel and the North Sea, and separating Great Britain from continental ...
. ** 8 November – The
Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, it is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second-largest library in ...
at the
University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...
is opened. ** November – Final judgement in ''
Slade's Case Slade's Case (or ''Slade v. Morley'') was a case in English contract law that ran from 1596 to 1602. Under the medieval common law, claims seeking the repayment of a debt or other matters could only be pursued through a writ of debt in the Co ...
'', allowing an effective modernisation of
English contract law English contract law is the body of law that regulates legally binding agreements in England and Wales. With its roots in the lex mercatoria and the activism of the judiciary during the Industrial Revolution, it shares a heritage with countries ...
. ** Publication of Shakespeare's comedy ''
The Merry Wives of Windsor ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' or ''Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597. The Windsor of the play's title is a ref ...
'', in London. ** Richard Carew publishes ''The Survey of Cornwall''. * 1603 ** 24 March – Queen
Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
dies at
Richmond Palace Richmond Palace was a Tudor royal residence on the River Thames in England which stood in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Situated in what was then rural Surrey, it lay upstream and on the opposite bank from the Palace of Westminste ...
aged 69, after 45 years on the throne, and is succeeded by her first cousin twice removed King
James VI of Scotland James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...
(where he has ruled since 1567), hence the
Union of the Crowns The Union of the Crowns (; ) was the accession of James VI of Scotland to the throne of the Kingdom of England as James I and the practical unification of some functions (such as overseas diplomacy) of the two separate realms under a single ...
of
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
and England. Elizabeth was never married and had no children, neither did her only legitimate siblings, the late
Mary Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a female given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religion * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also called the Blesse ...
and
Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and King of Ireland, Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. The only surviving son of Henry VIII by his thi ...
. ** 31 March – The Nine Years' War is ended by the submission of
Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone (; – 20 July 1616) was an Irish lord and key figure of the Nine Years' War. Known as the "Great Earl", he led the confederacy of Irish lords against the English Crown in resistance to the Tudor conquest of Ir ...
, to the English Crown and the signing of the
Treaty of Mellifont The Treaty of Mellifont (), also known as the Articles of Mellifont, was signed in 1603, ending the Nine Years' War (Ireland), Nine Years' War which took place in Ireland from 1593 to 1603. End of war Following the English victory in the Battl ...
. ** 5 April –
James VI and I James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and King of Ireland, Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 M ...
sets out from Edinburgh for London. ** April – Thomas Cartwright delivers his
Millenary Petition The Millenary Petition was a list of requests given to James I by Puritans in 1603 when he was travelling to London in order to claim the English throne. It is claimed, but not proven, that this petition had 1,000 signatures of Puritan minister ...
, demanding an end to ritualistic practices, allegedly signed by 1,000
Puritan The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to rid the Church of England of what they considered to be Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should b ...
ministers, to the King, who is en route to London. ** c. April –
1603 London plague The 1603 London plague epidemic was the first of the 17th century and marked the transition from the Tudor period, Tudor to the Stuart period, Stuart period. While sources vary as to the exact number of people killed, around one-fifth of Lo ...
: Outbreak of
bubonic plague Bubonic plague is one of three types of Plague (disease), plague caused by the Bacteria, bacterium ''Yersinia pestis''. One to seven days after exposure to the bacteria, flu-like symptoms develop. These symptoms include fever, headaches, and ...
epidemic in London in which between 29,000 and 40,000 die. The theatres are closed. ** 28 April – Funeral of Elizabeth I in
Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...
. ** 7 May – King James arrives in London, where he is enthusiastically received. ** 19 May – The London acting company previously known as the
Lord Chamberlain's Men The Lord Chamberlain's Men was an English company of actors, or a "playing company" (as it then would likely have been described), for which William Shakespeare wrote during most of his career. Richard Burbage played most of the lead roles, includ ...
comes under the patronage of the new monarch and is chartered as the King's Men.
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
is among them. ** 24 June – Planned date for "
Bye Plot The Bye Plot of 1603 was a conspiracy, by Priesthood (Catholic Church), Roman Catholic priests and Puritans aiming at toleration, tolerance for their respective denominations, to kidnap the new English king, James I of England. It is referred to ...
", a conspiracy to kidnap King James in the interest of tolerance for Roman Catholic priests and Puritans. ** July – "
Main Plot The Main Plot was an alleged conspiracy of July 1603 by English courtiers to remove King James I from the English throne and to replace him with his cousin Lady Arbella Stuart. The plot was supposedly led by Lord Cobham and funded by the Spani ...
", an alleged
conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, ploy, or scheme, is a secret plan or agreement between people (called conspirers or conspirators) for an unlawful or harmful purpose, such as murder, treason, or corruption, especially with a political motivat ...
by English courtiers to remove James from the English throne and to replace him with his cousin
Lady Arbella Stuart Lady Arbella Stuart (also Arabella, or Stewart; 1575 – 25 September 1615) was an English noblewoman who was considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I of England. During the reign of King James VI and I (her first cousin), she marrie ...
. ** 17 July – Sir
Walter Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebell ...
is arrested for
treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state (polity), state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to Coup d'état, overthrow its government, spy ...
in connection with the "Main Plot". ** 21 July – Thomas Howard is created the 1st
Earl of Suffolk Earl of Suffolk is a title which has been created four times in the Peerage of England. The first creation, in tandem with the creation of the title of Earl of Norfolk, came before 1069 in favour of Ralph the Staller; but the title was forfei ...
. ** 25 July – Coronation of
James I James I may refer to: People *James I of Aragon (1208–1276) * James I of Sicily or James II of Aragon (1267–1327) * James I, Count of La Marche (1319–1362), Count of Ponthieu * James I, Count of Urgell (1321–1347) *James I of Cyprus (1334� ...
as King of England in Westminster Abbey. ** November–December – The court is in residence at
Wilton House Wilton House is an English country house at Wilton near Salisbury in Wiltshire, which has been the country seat of the Earls of Pembroke for over 400 years. It was built on the site of the medieval Wilton Abbey. Following the dissolution ...
in Wiltshire due to plague in London. ** 17 November – Raleigh goes on trial for treason in the converted Great Hall of
Winchester Castle Winchester Castle is a medieval building in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded in 1067. Only the Great Hall still stands; it houses a museum of the history of Winchester. History Early history Around AD 70 the Romans constructed a ...
. He is found guilty but his life is spared by the King at this time and he is returned to imprisonment in the
Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...
. ** 2 December – The King's Men perform a play for the court at Wilton House, perhaps ''
As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...
''. * 1604 ** 14–16 January –
Hampton Court Conference The Hampton Court Conference was a meeting in January 1604, convened at Hampton Court Palace, for discussion between King James I of England and representatives of the Church of England, including leading English Puritans. The conference resulted ...
with James I, the
Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
s and representatives of
Puritans The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to rid the Church of England of what they considered to be Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should b ...
. Work begins on the
Authorized King James Version The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version (AV), is an Early Modern English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, by ...
of the
Bible The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally writt ...
and revision of the
Book of Common Prayer The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the title given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christianity, Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The Book of Common Prayer (1549), fi ...
. ** 17 February – James I issues an order for all Jesuits and Roman Catholic priests to leave his kingdom by March 19. ** 19 March – The "
Blessed Parliament The 1st Parliament of King James I was summoned by King James I of England, King James I on 31 January 1604 and assembled on 19 March following. It was known as the Blessed Parliament and took place in five sessions, interrupted by Holy Da ...
" assembles at Westminster and debates Robert Cecil's proposal, brought forward according to the King's desire, for union with
Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
. ** 2 April –
Speaker of the House of Commons Speaker of the House of Commons is a political leadership position found in countries that have a House of Commons, where the membership of the body elects a speaker to lead its proceedings. Systems that have such a position include: * Speaker of ...
Sir Edward Phelips rules that members of the House may not bring forward an identical (or near-identical) motion to one that has already been decided in that same session. ** 20 May –
Gunpowder Plot The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was an unsuccessful attempted regicide against James VI and I, King James VI of Scotland and I of England by a group of English ...
: Five Catholic conspirators, led by
Robert Catesby Robert Catesby ( – 8 November 1605) was the leader of a group of English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Born in Warwickshire, Catesby was educated at Oxford University. His family were prominent recusant Catholics, a ...
, who has invited Thomas Wintour, John Wright, Thomas Percy and
Guy Fawkes Guy Fawkes (; 13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606), also known as Guido Fawkes while fighting for the Spanish, was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics involved in the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. He was born and educate ...
, meet at the Duck and Drake Inn in London to make a plan for the assassination of King James. ** 20 May–16 July – 18 sessions of discussion between England and Spain at
Somerset House Somerset House is a large neoclassical architecture, neoclassical building complex situated on the south side of the Strand, London, Strand in central London, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The Georgian era quadran ...
in London agree a peace treaty to end the
Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) The Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) was an intermittent conflict between the Habsburg Spain, Habsburg Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of England that was never formally declared. It began with England's military expedition in 1585 to what was ...
. ** 20 June – The Form of Apology and Satisfaction is read out in the
House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
to justify the conduct of Parliament following a dispute between King and Parliament over a contested election in
Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...
. ** 18 August – The Treaty of London brings an end to the Anglo–Spanish War. ** 4 July – The
Jesuits etc. Act 1603 The Jesuits etc. Act 1603 ( 1 Jas. 1. c. 4), full title ''An Act for the due execution of the Statutes against Jesuits, seminary Priests and recusants'', was an act passed by the Parliament of England during the reign of James I. It received t ...
(''An Act for the due execution of the Statutes against Jesuits, seminary Priests and recusants'') is given royal assent, creating penalties against Jesuits and Catholics who send their children abroad to Catholic colleges. ** 7 July – Parliament prorogued. ** Before 1 October –
Huntingdon Beaumont Huntingdon Beaumont (c.1560–1624) was an English coal mining entrepreneur who built two of the earliest wagonways in England for trans-shipment of coal. He was less successful as a businessman and died having been imprisoned for debt. Beaumon ...
completes the
Wollaton Wagonway The Wollaton Wagonway (or Waggonway), built between October 1603 and 1604 in the East Midlands of England by Huntingdon Beaumont in partnership with Sir Percival Willoughby, has sometimes been credited as the world's first ''overground'' wagonwa ...
, built to transport
coal Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock, formed as rock strata called coal seams. Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other Chemical element, elements, chiefly hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Coal i ...
from the mines at
Strelley Strelley is a village and former civil parish in the Borough of Broxtowe and City of Nottingham in Nottinghamshire, England. It is to the west of Nottingham. The population of the civil parish taken at the 2011 census was 653, and 496 at the ...
to
Wollaton Wollaton is a suburb and former civil parish in the western part of Nottingham, in the Nottingham district, in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire, England. Wollaton has two wards in the City of Nottingham (''Wollaton East & Lenton Abbey'' ...
just west of
Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...
, the world's oldest
wagonway A wagonway (or waggonway; also known as a horse-drawn railway, or horse-drawn railroad) was a method of rail transport, railway transportation that preceded the steam locomotive and used horses to haul wagons. The terms plateway and tramway (indu ...
with provenance. ** 20 October – King James assumes the style ''king of Great Britain''. ** 1 November ( Hallowmas day) – First recorded performance of Shakespeare's tragedy ''
Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...
'', at
Whitehall Palace The Palace of Whitehall – also spelled White Hall – at Westminster was the main residence of the English monarchs from 1530 until 1698, when most of its structures, with the notable exception of Inigo Jones's Banqueting House of 1622, ...
in London. ** 10 December –
Richard Bancroft Richard Bancroft (1544 – 2 November 1610) was an English churchman, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1604 to 1610 and "chief overseer" of the King James Bible. Life Bancroft was born in September 1544 at Farnworth, now part of Widnes, Ch ...
(a leading participant in the
King James Version The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version (AV), is an Early Modern English Bible translations, Early Modern English translation of the Christianity, Christian Bible for the Church of England, wh ...
Bible translation) is installed as
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the Primus inter pares, ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. The first archbishop ...
. **
Christopher Marlowe Christopher Marlowe ( ; Baptism, baptised 26 February 156430 May 1593), also known as Kit Marlowe, was an English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe is among the most famous of the English Renaissance theatre, Eli ...
's play '' The Tragicall History of D. Faustus'' (probably written and first performed between 1588/89 and Marlowe's death in 1593) is published in London. ** King James publishes ''
A Counterblaste to Tobacco ''A Counterblaste to Tobacco'' is a treatise written by King James VI and I in 1604. In it he expresses his distaste for tobacco and tobacco-smoking.Steve Luck, ''The Complete Guide to Cigars: An Illustrated Guide to the World's Finest Cigars'' ...
''. ** ''
Table Alphabeticall ''A Table Alphabeticall'' is the abbreviated title of the first monolingual dictionary in the English language, created by Robert Cawdrey and first published in London in 1604. The work is notable for being the first collection of its kind. At ...
'', the first known English
dictionary A dictionary is a listing of lexemes from the lexicon of one or more specific languages, often arranged Alphabetical order, alphabetically (or by Semitic root, consonantal root for Semitic languages or radical-and-stroke sorting, radical an ...
to be organised by
alphabetical Alphabetical order is a system whereby character strings are placed in order based on the position of the characters in the conventional ordering of an alphabet. It is one of the methods of collation. In mathematics, a lexicographical order is ...
ordering, is
published Publishing is the activities of making information, literature, music, software, and other content, physical or digital, available to the public for sale or free of charge. Traditionally, the term publishing refers to the creation and distribu ...
. **
Blundell's School Blundell's School is an Private schools in the United Kingdom, independent co-educational boarding school, boarding and Day school, day school in the English Public School (United Kingdom), public school tradition, located in Tiverton, Devon, T ...
is founded in
Tiverton, Devon Tiverton ( ) is a town and civil parish in Devon, England, and the commercial and administrative centre of the Mid Devon district. The population in 2019 was 20,587. History Early history The town's name is conjectured to derive from "Twy-for ...
, under the will of merchant
Peter Blundell Peter Blundell (c. 1520–1601) was a prosperous clothier, trading between Tiverton, Devon, and London. He died in April 1601, never having married and with no known issue. On his death, he left over £32,000 cash to fellow clothiers and thei ...
. * 1605 ** 10 April – Spanish Catholic missionary
Luisa Carvajal y Mendoza Luisa Carvajal y Mendoza (formerly known as Doña Luisa de Carvajal y Mendoza; January 2, 1566 – January 2, 1614) is best known for her mystical religious poetry as well as her fight to spread Catholicism throughout England, by preaching agai ...
arrives in England. ** October – Publication of
Francis Bacon Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Alban (; 22 January 1561 – 9 April 1626) was an English philosopher and statesman who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I. Bacon argued for the importance of nat ...
's treatise ''
The Advancement of Learning thumbnail, Title page of 1640 edition ''The Advancement of Learning'' (full title: ''Of the Proficience and Advancement of Learning, Divine and Human'') is a 1605 book by Francis Bacon which introduces and popularizes the scientific method of o ...
''. ** 5 November –
Gunpowder Plot The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was an unsuccessful attempted regicide against James VI and I, King James VI of Scotland and I of England by a group of English ...
: a plot to blow up the
Houses of Parliament The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative ch ...
is foiled when, following an anonymous tip-off (passed to Lord Monteagle in October), Sir Thomas Knyvet, a justice of the peace, finds Catholic plotter
Guy Fawkes Guy Fawkes (; 13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606), also known as Guido Fawkes while fighting for the Spanish, was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics involved in the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. He was born and educate ...
in a cellar below the Parliament building and orders a search of the area, finding 36 barrels of
gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, charcoal (which is mostly carbon), and potassium nitrate, potassium ni ...
. Fawkes is arrested for trying to kill King James I and the members who were scheduled to sit together in Parliament the next day. Fawkes speaks the legendary words: "Remember, remember, the Fifth of November". ** 8 November – Gunpowder Plot conspirator
Robert Catesby Robert Catesby ( – 8 November 1605) was the leader of a group of English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Born in Warwickshire, Catesby was educated at Oxford University. His family were prominent recusant Catholics, a ...
is among those shot while plotters are being arrested at
Holbeche House Holbeche House (also, in some texts, Holbeach or Holbeache) is a mansion located approximately north of Kingswinford, now in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley but historically in Staffordshire.Aikin, L. p.244 Some members of the Gunpowder Plo ...
in the west midlands. * 1606 ** 27 January – Catholic priest
Henry Garnet Henry Garnet (July 1555 – 3 May 1606), sometimes Henry Garnett, was an English Jesuit priest executed for high treason in the United Kingdom, high treason, based solely on having had advance knowledge of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and having ...
is arrested at
Hindlip Hall Hindlip Hall is a stately home in Hindlip, Worcestershire, England. The first major hall was built before 1575, and it played a significant role in both the Babington and the Gunpowder plots, where it hid four people in priest holes. It was H ...
in Worcestershire. ** 31 January – Fawkes and three of his co-plotters are executed by
hanging, drawing and quartering To be hanged, drawn and quartered was a method of torturous capital punishment used principally to execute men convicted of high treason in medieval and early modern Britain and Ireland. The convicted traitor was fastened by the feet to a h ...
in London, four having been executed the previous day. ** 24 February – Commercial treaty between England and France signed in Paris. ** 28 March – Catholic priest
Henry Garnet Henry Garnet (July 1555 – 3 May 1606), sometimes Henry Garnett, was an English Jesuit priest executed for high treason in the United Kingdom, high treason, based solely on having had advance knowledge of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and having ...
is tried for
misprision of treason Misprision of treason is an offence found in many common law jurisdictions around the world, having been inherited from English law. It is committed by someone who knows a treason is being or is about to be committed but does not report it to a p ...
at
Guildhall, London Guildhall is a municipal building in the City of London, England. It is off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. The current building dates from the 15th century; however documentary evidence suggests that a ...
, in connection with the Gunpowder Plot, and found guilty. Discussion of
equivocation In logic, equivocation ("calling two different things by the same name") is an informal fallacy resulting from the use of a particular word or expression in multiple senses within an argument. It is a type of ambiguity that stems from a phrase ...
plays a significant part in his questioning and trial. On 3 May he is hanged at
St Paul's Churchyard St Paul's Churchyard is an area immediately around St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London. Historically it included St Paul's Cross and Paternoster Row. It became one of the principal marketplaces in London. St Paul's Cross was an open-air pu ...
in London. ** 10 April –
Charter of 1606 The First Charter of Virginia, also known as the Charter of 1606, is a document from King James I of England to the Virginia Company assigning land rights to colonists for the creation of a settlement which could be used as a base to export comm ...
: The First Charter of Virginia is adopted, by which
King James I of England James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...
grants rights to the
Virginia Company The Virginia Company was an English trading company chartered by King James I on 10 April 1606 with the objective of colonizing the eastern coast of America. The coast was named Virginia, after Elizabeth I, and it stretched from present-day ...
(comprising the
London Company The Virginia Company of London (sometimes called "London Company") was a division of the Virginia Company with responsibility for colonizing the east coast of North America between latitudes 34° and 41° N. History Origins The territory ...
and
Plymouth Company The Plymouth Company, officially known as the Virginia Company of Plymouth, was a company chartered by King James in 1606 along with the Virginia Company of London with responsibility for colonizing the east coast of America between latitud ...
) to settle parts of the east coast of
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
. ** 12 April – First version of the
Union Flag The Union Jack or Union Flag is the ''de facto'' national flag of the United Kingdom. The Union Jack was also used as the official flag of several British colonies and dominions before they adopted their own national flags. It is sometimes a ...
created, designed by
Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...
, to be worn at the maintopmast of English and Scots ships. ** Spring – Ben Jonson's satiric play ''
Volpone ''Volpone'' (, Italian for "sly fox") is a comedy play by English playwright Ben Jonson first produced in 1605–1606, drawing on elements of city comedy and beast fable. A merciless satire of greed and lust, it remains Jonson's most-perfo ...
'' first performed, in London. ** 27 May – Severe penalties are imposed for Catholic
recusancy Recusancy (from ) was the state of those who remained loyal to the Catholic Church and refused to attend Church of England services after the English Reformation. The 1558 Recusancy Acts passed in the reign of Elizabeth I, and temporarily repea ...
, and for refusal to take an Oath of Allegiance to James to serve in public office, under terms of the
Popish Recusants Act 1605 The Popish Recusants Act 1605 ( 3 Jas. 1. c. 4) was an act of the Parliament of England which quickly followed the Gunpowder Plot of the same year, an attempt by English Roman Catholics to assassinate King James I and many of the Parliament. ...
(''An Act for the better discovering and repressing of popish recusants'', proclaimed law 22 June). ** 27 May – Second session of Parliament under King James prorogued. ** 10 July – 47 Roman Catholic priests, including
Thomas Garnet Thomas Garnet, SJ (9 November 1575 – 23 June 1608) was an English Jesuit priest who was executed in London during the English Reformation. He is the protomartyr (i.e., the first martyr associated with a place) of Saint Omer and of Stony ...
, are deported to
Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...
on pain of death if they return to England. ** 24 July – King
Christian IV of Denmark Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and King of Norway, Norway and List of rulers of Schleswig-Holstein, Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years and 330 days is th ...
, as the guest of his brother-in-law James I, is welcomed to London and the two monarchs are driven by coaches to a banquet at
Theobalds House Theobalds House (also known as Theobalds Palace) in the parish of Cheshunt in the English county of Hertfordshire, north of London, was a significant stately home and (later) royal palace of the 16th and early 17th centuries. Set in extensive ...
at
Cheshunt Cheshunt (/ˈtʃɛzənt/ CHEZ-ənt) is a town in the Borough of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England, situated within the London commuter belt approximately north of Central London. The town lies on the River Lea and Lee Navigation, bordering th ...
,
Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and one of the home counties. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the ...
. They are entertained by
Ben Jonson Benjamin Jonson ( 11 June 1572 – ) was an English playwright, poet and actor. Jonson's artistry exerted a lasting influence on English poetry and stage comedy. He popularised the comedy of humours; he is best known for the satire, satirical ...
's play, ''
The Entertainment of the Kings of Great Britain and Denmark ''The Entertainment of the Two Kings of Great Britain and Denmark'' or ''The Hours'' was written by Ben Jonson and performed at Theobalds House on 24 July 1606 . John Harington (writer), John Harington of Kelston described another masque of Solomo ...
''. On 31 July they see a play by
John Marston John Marston is a character in the ''Red Dead'' video game series by Rockstar Games. He is the main playable protagonist of the 2010 video game ''Red Dead Redemption'', wherein he must deal with the decline of the Wild West while being force ...
. ** 7 August – Possible first performance of Shakespeare's tragedy ''
Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
'', in London.Scholars date completion as between 1603 and 1606. ** 18 November – Third session of Parliament begins. ** 19 December – The ''
Susan Constant ''Susan Constant'' (or ''Sarah Constant'') was the largest of three ships of the English Virginia Company on the 1606–1607 voyage that resulted in the founding of Jamestown in the new Colony of Virginia. Captained by Christopher Newport, she ...
'' sets out from the
River Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the The Isis, River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the Longest rivers of the United Kingdom, s ...
leading the
Virginia Company The Virginia Company was an English trading company chartered by King James I on 10 April 1606 with the objective of colonizing the eastern coast of America. The coast was named Virginia, after Elizabeth I, and it stretched from present-day ...
's fleet for the foundation of
Jamestown, Virginia The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent British colonization of the Americas, English settlement in the Americas. It was located on the northeast bank of the James River, about southwest of present-day Willia ...
. ** 26 December ( Saint Stephen's night) – One of the first performance of Shakespeare's tragedy ''
King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...
'', before the King at Whitehall. **
Paston School Paston College (previously Paston Sixth Form College) is a sixth form college located in the town of North Walsham, Norfolk. The college has been part of City College Norwich, following a merger of the two colleges, since 1 December 2017. Histo ...
founded in Norfolk. * 1607 ** 30 January – Coastal flooding around Britain, probably a
storm surge A storm surge, storm flood, tidal surge, or storm tide is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low-pressure weather systems, such as cyclones. It is measured as the rise in water level above the ...
, including
Bristol Channel floods The Bristol Channel floods of 30 January 1607 drowned many people and destroyed a large amount of farmland and livestock during a flood in the Bristol Channel. The known tide heights, probable weather, extent and depth of flooding, and coastal f ...
in which a massive wave sweeps along the
Bristol Channel The Bristol Channel (, literal translation: "Severn Sea") is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales (from Pembrokeshire to the Vale of Glamorgan) and South West England (from Devon to North Somerset). It extends ...
, killing an estimated 2,000 people, with of farmland inundated. ** late April – Start of
Midland Revolt The Midland Revolt was a popular uprising which occurred in the Midlands of England in 1607. Beginning in late April in Northamptonshire, in Haselbech, Pytchley and Rushton, it spread to Warwickshire and Leicestershire in May. The riots were ...
against land enclosures. The rebels are referred to as "
Levellers The Levellers were a political movement active during the English Civil War who were committed to popular sovereignty, extended suffrage, equality before the law and religious tolerance. The hallmark of Leveller thought was its populism, as sh ...
". ** 14 May –
Jamestown, Virginia The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent British colonization of the Americas, English settlement in the Americas. It was located on the northeast bank of the James River, about southwest of present-day Willia ...
, is established as the first permanent English settlement in North America. ** 8 June – Midland Revolt suppressed at Newton, Northamptonshire, by local gentry. ** 4 July – Third session of Parliament ends, having refused a proposed union with the Parliament of Scotland. It does not assemble again until 1610. ** September – The Scrooby Congregation of Protestant English Dissenters, Separatists from Nottinghamshire attempt to flee to the Dutch Republic from The Haven, Boston, but are betrayed, arrested and imprisoned for a time. ** 14 September – Flight of the Earls from Ireland:
Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone (; – 20 July 1616) was an Irish lord and key figure of the Nine Years' War (Ireland), Nine Years' War. Known as the "Great Earl", he led the confederacy of Irish lords against the Crown, the English Crown in r ...
, and Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, flee to Spain to avoid capture by the English crown, thus facilitating the Plantation of Ulster with English and Scots settlers. ** November – Case of Prohibitions: Sir Edward Coke determines that legal cases should not be tried by the monarch. ** 5 December–14 February 1608 – severe frost. Many rivers, including the Thames, freeze. ** First performance of the first wholly Parody, parodic play in English, Francis Beaumont's ''The Knight of the Burning Pestle'', unsuccessfully, probably by the Children of the Chapel at the Blackfriars Theatre in London. * 1608 ** Spring – The Scrooby Congregation successfully flees to the Dutch Republic from the Humber, origin of the Pilgrim Fathers who in 1620 move on to North America. ** April – Performances of George Chapman's new play ''The Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles, Duke of Byron'' by the Children of the Chapel at the Blackfriars Theatre in London are suppressed after the French Ambassador complains to James VI & I, King James. After June the play is published with the offensive passages suppressed. ** July–December – Plague in London (which recurs in the two following years). ** c. October – Thomas Middleton's city comedy ''A Mad World, My Masters'' published in London. ** Muster (military), Muster rolls are compiled in the counties. ** Traditional date – Golf first played in England, at Blackheath, London. * 1609 ** 20 May – London publisher Thomas Thorpe issues ''Shakespeare's Sonnets, Shake-speares Sonnets'', with a dedication to "Mr. W.H.", and the poem ''A Lover's Complaint'' appended; it is uncertain whether this publication has William Shakespeare, Shakespeare's authority. ** 25 July – The
London Company The Virginia Company of London (sometimes called "London Company") was a division of the Virginia Company with responsibility for colonizing the east coast of North America between latitudes 34° and 41° N. History Origins The territory ...
's ship ''Sea Venture'', ''en route'' to relieve the Jamestown, Virginia, Jamestown settlement, is driven ashore in Bermuda, thus effectively first settling the colony. ** 26 July – English scientist Thomas Harriot becomes the first to draw an astronomical object after viewing it through a telescope: he draws a map of the Moon, preceding Galileo by several months. ** 28 August – English explorer Henry Hudson sailing the ''Half Moon (ship), Halve Maen'' in the service of the Dutch East India Company finds Delaware Bay. ** 11–12 September – Hudson sails into Upper New York Bay and begins a journey up the Hudson River. ** 12 October – A version of the rhyme "Three Blind Mice" is published in ''Deuteromelia or The Seconde part of Musicks melodie'' (London). The editor, and possible author of the verse, is the teenage Thomas Ravenscroft. This collection follows his publication of the first Round (music), rounds in English, ''Pammelia''. ** Plantation of Ulster proceeds: Protestant English and Scots settlers take over forfeited estates of rebel leaders. ** Trinity House establishes its first lighthouses, at Lowestoft. ** Publication of ''Pericles, Prince of Tyre'' in London with attribution to Shakespeare.


Births

* 1600 ** February – Edmund Calamy the Elder, presbyterian (died 1666 in England, 1666) ** 26 June – Sir Richard Grenville, 1st Baronet, Royalist leader (died 1658 in England, 1658) ** November – John Ogilby, writer and cartographer (died 1676 in England, 1676) ** William Prynne, puritan politician (died 1669 in England, 1669) ** Brian Walton (bishop), Brian Walton, divine and scholar (died 1661 in England, 1661) ** ''probable date'' – Dud Dudley, ironmaster (died 1684 in England, 1684) * 1601 ** 12 January – Adrian Scrope, Parliamentarian colonel and regicide (executed 1660 in England, 1660) ** May – Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton (died 1643 in England, 1643) ** Peter Chamberlen the third, Peter Chamberlen, physician (died 1683 in England, 1683) * 1602 ** 29 March – John Lightfoot, churchman and rabbinical scholar (died 1675 in England, 1675) ** April – William Lawes, composer and musician (died 1645 in England, 1645) ** 1 May – William Lilly, astrologer (died 1681 in England, 1681) ** 12 July – John Bradshaw (judge), John Bradshaw, judge and regicide (died 1659 in England, 1659) ** 12 October – William Chillingworth, churchman (died 1644 in England, 1644) ** 13 October – Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland, military leader (died 1668 in England, 1668) ** 18 December – Simonds d'Ewes, antiquarian and politician (died 1650 in England, 1650) ** John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton (died 1678 in England, 1678) ** John Greaves, mathematician and antiquary (died 1652 in England, 1652) ** Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, Parliamentary commander (died 1671 in England, 1671) ** Henry Marten (regicide), Henry Marten, lawyer and politician, regicide (died 1680 in England, 1680) ** Dudley North, 4th Baron North, politician (died 1677 in England, 1677) ** Owen Feltham, religious writer (died 1668 in England, 1668) * 1602 or 1603 ** 9 March – Edward Somerset, 2nd Marquess of Worcester (died 1667 in England, 1667) * 1603 ** 21 January – Shackerley Marmion, dramatist (died 1639 in England, 1639) ** 27 January – Sir Harbottle Grimston, 2nd Baronet, Harbottle Grimston, politician (died 1685 in England, 1685) ** 18 March – Simon Bradstreet, colonial magistrate (died 1697 in England, 1697) ** 11 July – Kenelm Digby, privateer and alchemist (died 1665 in England, 1665) ** 20 November ''(bapt.)'' – Daniel Blagrave, Member of Parliament (died 1668 in England, 1668) ** 21 December – Roger Williams (theologian), Roger Williams, theologian and colonist (died 1684 in England, 1684) ** John Ashburnham (Royalist), John Ashburnham, Royalist Member of Parliament (died 1671 in England, 1671) * 1604 ** 29 May ''(bapt.)'' – Isaac Ambrose, Puritan divine (died 1664 in England, 1664) ** 3 August – John Eliot (missionary), John Eliot, puritan missionary (died 1690 in England, 1690) ** 13 September – Sir William Brereton, 1st Baronet, William Brereton, soldier and politician (died 1661 in England, 1661) ** 8 November ''(bapt.)'' – Edward Pococke, Orientalist and biblical scholar (died 1691 in England, 1691) ** 23 November ''(bapt.)'' – Jasper Mayne, dramatist (died 1672 in England, 1672) * 1605 ** June – Thomas Randolph (poet), Thomas Randolph, poet and dramatist (died 1635 in England, 1635) ** August – Bulstrode Whitelocke, lawyer and parliamentarian (died 1675 in England, 1675) ** 8 August – Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, colonial Governor of Maryland (died 1675 in England, 1675) ** 18 August – Henry Hammond, churchman (died 1660 in England, 1660) ** 12 September – William Dugdale, antiquary (died 1686 in England, 1686) ** 19 October – Thomas Browne, physician and philosopher (died 1682 in England, 1682) ** 4 November – William Habington, poet (died 1654 in England, 1654) ** William Berkeley (governor), William Berkeley, governor of Virginia (died 1677 in England, 1677) ** Approximate date *** John Gauden, bishop and writer (died 1662 in England, 1662) *** William Goffe, parliamentarian and regicide (died 1679 in England, 1679) *** Thomas Nabbes, dramatist (died 1641 in England, 1641) *** Francis Willoughby, 5th Baron Willoughby of Parham (died 1666 in England, 1666) * 1606 ** 4 January ''(bapt.)'' – Edmund Castell, orientalist (died 1685 in England, 1685) ** 28 February – William Davenant, poet and playwright (died 1668 in England, 1668) ** March – Henry Pierrepont, 1st Marquess of Dorchester (died 1680 in England, 1680) ** 3 March – Edmund Waller, poet (died 1687 in England, 1687) ** 27 September – Richard Busby, clergyman (died 1695 in England, 1695) ** 4 November ''(bapt.)'' – Sir Thomas Herbert, 1st Baronet, Thomas Herbert, traveller and historian (died 1682 in England, 1682) ** John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor, politician (died 1685 in England, 1685) ** Approximate date *** Leonard Calvert, governor of Baltimore (died 1647 in England, 1647) *** Joan Carlile, née Palmer, professional portrait painter (died 1679 in England, 1679) *** Thomas Washbourne, clergyman and poet (died 1687 in England, 1687) * 1607 ** 31 January – James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, Royalist noble (executed 1651 in England, 1651) ** 5 April ''(bapt.)'' – John Boys (Royalist), John Boys, Royalist soldier, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (died 1664 in England, 1664) ** 10 March – Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton, statesman (died 1667 in England, 1667) ** 26 November – John Harvard (clergyman), John Harvard, clergyman and colonist (died 1638 in England, 1638) ** John Dixwell, judge and regicide (died 1689 in England, 1689) * 1608 ** 15 April – John Huddleston, Catholic clergyman (died 1698 in England, 1698) ** 20 April – Edward Rainbowe, clergyman and preacher (died 1684 in England, 1684) ** June – Sir Richard Fanshawe, 1st Baronet, Richard Fanshawe, diplomat (died 1666 in England, 1666) ** 19 June – Thomas Fuller, churchman and historian (died 1661 in England, 1661) ** 14 July – George Goring, Lord Goring, Royalist soldier (died 1657 in England, 1657) ** 4 August – John Tradescant the Younger, botanist and gardener (died 1662 in England, 1662) ** 13 November – John Desborough, soldier and politician (died 1680 in England, 1680) ** 6 December – George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, soldier (died 1670 in England, 1670) ** 9 December – John Milton, poet (died 1674 in England, 1674) ** Thomas Barlow (bishop), Thomas Barlow, Bishop of Lincoln (died 1691 in England, 1691) * 1609 ** 10 February – John Suckling (poet), John Suckling, poet (died 1642 in England, 1642) ** 18 February – Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, historian and statesman (died 1674 in England, 1674) ** 29 March – Sarah Boyle (1609–1633), Sarah Boyle, noblewoman (died 1633 in England, 1633) ** 8 October – John Clarke (1609–1676), John Clarke, physician (died 1676 in England, 1676) ** 19 October – Gerrard Winstanley, Protestant religious reformer (died 1676 in England, 1676) ** 26 October – William Sprague (1609–1675), William Sprague, co-founder of Charlestown, Massachusetts (died 1675 in England, 1675) ** 1 November – Matthew Hale (jurist), Matthew Hale, Lord Chief Justice (died 1676 in England, 1676) ** 24 December – Philip Warwick, writer and politician (died 1683 in England, 1683) ** Samuel Cooper (painter), Samuel Cooper, miniature painter (died 1672 in England, 1672)


Deaths

* 1600 ** April – Thomas Deloney, writer (born 1543 in England, 1543) ** 3 November – Richard Hooker (theologian), Richard Hooker, Anglican theologian (born 1554 in England, 1554) * 1601 ** 19 January – Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, statesman (born 1534 in England, 1534) ** 25 February –
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (; 10 November 1565 – 25 February 1601) was an English nobleman and a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. Politically ambitious, he was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in Ireland during th ...
, politician (born 1566 in England, 1566) ** 27 February – Anne Line, Catholic martyr (executed) (born c. 1563) ** 7 September – John Shakespeare, glover and farmer, father of
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
(born 1529 in England, 1529) * 1602 ** 13 February – Alexander Nowell, clergyman (born 1507 in England, 1507) ** October – Thomas Morley, composer (born 1557 in England, 1557) ** 29 November – Anthony Holborne, composer (born c. 1545 in England, 1545) * 1603 ** 15 January – Catherine Carey, Lady in waiting to
Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
of England (year of birth unknown) ** 24 March – Queen
Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
(born 1533 in England, 1533) ** 8 September – George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon, politician (born 1547 in England, 1547) ** 28 October (burial) – Ralph Lane, explorer (born 1530 in England, 1530) ** 9 December – William Watson (priest), William Watson, Catholic priest and conspirator (executed) (born 1559 in England, 1559) ** 10 December – William Gilbert, scientist (plague) (born 1544 in England, 1544) ** 27 December – Thomas Cartwright (churchman), Thomas Cartwright, Puritan clergyman (born c. 1535 in England, 1535) ** Edward Fenton, navigator (year of birth unknown) ** Probable date – William Kempe, Will Kempe, comic performer (year of birth unknown) * 1604 ** early – Thomas North, translator of Plutarch (born 1535 in England, 1535) ** 29 February – John Whitgift,
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the Primus inter pares, ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. The first archbishop ...
(born 1530 in England, 1530) ** 1 April – Thomas Churchyard, author (born 1520 in England, 1520) ** 24 June – Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, politician (born 1550 in England, 1550) ** November – Thomas Storer, poet (born 1571 in England, 1571) ** 3 December – George Hastings, 4th Earl of Huntingdon (born 1540 in England, 1540) ** late – Richard Topcliffe, Member of Parliament and torturer (born 1532 in England, 1532) * 1605 ** 5 April – Adam Loftus (Archbishop), Adam Loftus, Catholic archbishop (born c. 1533 in England, 1533) ** 6 April – John Stow, historian and antiquarian (born 1525 in England, 1525) ** 11 September – Thomas Tresham II, Sir Thomas Tresham, politician (born 1550 in England, 1550) ** 8 November –
Robert Catesby Robert Catesby ( – 8 November 1605) was the leader of a group of English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Born in Warwickshire, Catesby was educated at Oxford University. His family were prominent recusant Catholics, a ...
, conspirator (born 1573 in England, 1573) ** December – Francis Tresham, conspirator (born 1567 in England, 1567) ** 29 December – John Davis (English explorer), John Davis, explorer (born 1550 in England, 1550) * 1606 ** 30 January *** Everard Digby, conspirator (executed) (born 1578 in England, 1578) *** Robert Wintour, conspirator (executed) (born 1565 in England, 1565) ** 31 January ***
Guy Fawkes Guy Fawkes (; 13 April 1570 – 31 January 1606), also known as Guido Fawkes while fighting for the Spanish, was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics involved in the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. He was born and educate ...
, conspirator (executed) (born 1570 in England, 1570) *** Ambrose Rokewood, conspirator (executed) (born c. 1578 in England, 1578) *** Thomas Wintour, conspirator (executed) (born 1571 in England, 1571) ** 1/2 March – Nicholas Owen (Jesuit), Nicholas Owen, carpenter and Jesuit lay brother (executed) (born c. 1562 in England, 1562) ** 3 April – Charles Blount, 1st Earl of Devon, politician (born 1563 in England, 1563) ** 7 April – Edward Oldcorne, Jesuit (executed) (born 1555 in England, 1555) ** 3 May –
Henry Garnet Henry Garnet (July 1555 – 3 May 1606), sometimes Henry Garnett, was an English Jesuit priest executed for high treason in the United Kingdom, high treason, based solely on having had advance knowledge of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot and having ...
, Jesuit (executed) (born 1561 in England, 1561) ** 20 November (burial) – John Lyly, writer (born 1553 in England, 1553) * 1607 ** May – Edward Dyer, courtier and poet (born 1543 in England, 1543) ** 21 May – John Rainolds, scholar and Bible translator (born 1549 in England, 1549) ** 10 June – John Popham (Lord Chief Justice), John Popham, Lord Chief Justice (born 1553 in England, 1553) ** 7 July – Penelope Blount, Countess of Devonshire (born 1562 in England, 1562) ** 22 August – Bartholomew Gosnold, explorer and privateer (born 1572 in England, 1572) ** 20 December – Sir John Bourke of Brittas, Irish recusant (executed) (born 1550 in England, 1550) ** Henry Chettle, writer (born 1564 in England, 1564) * 1608 ** 13 February – Bess of Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury (born 1527 in England, 1527) ** 26 February – John Still, bishop (born c. 1543 in England, 1543) ** 29 March – Laurence Tomson, Calvinist theologian (born 1539 in England, 1539) ** 19 April – Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset, statesman and poet (born 1536 in England, 1536) ** c. 24 August – Edmund Whitelocke, soldier and courtier (born 1565 in England, 1565) ** 19 October – Geoffrey Fenton, writer and politician (born c. 1539 in England, 1539) ** December *** John Dee (mathematician), John Dee, mathematician, astronomer, and geographer (born 1527 in England, 1527) *** William Davison (diplomat), William Davison, secretary to Queen
Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...
of England (born c. 1541 in England, 1541) * 1609 ** 9 March – William Warner (poet), William Warner, poet (born c. 1558 in England, 1558) ** December – Barnabe Barnes, poet (born c. 1571 in England, 1571)


References

{{England year nav 1600s in England, 17th century in England,