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December 9, 1568

Precept issued by John Shakespeare, justice of the peace, to arrest Richard Walker and bring him before the next sitting of the court of record to answer to a plea brought against him

This precept, issued by John Shakespeare in his capacity as justice of the peace, concerned William Shotteswell's suit against Richard Walker for a debt of £10. It should have been preceded by an initial hearing, but of this there is no surviving record.

September 7, 1569

Meeting of the Stratford-upon-Avon Corporation, presided over by the bailiff, John Shakespeare, at which officers for the following year were elected

Following his election as bailiff in 1568, John Shakespeare presided over meetings of the Corporation, although minutes were only properly kept for two – on October 1, 1568 and April 20, 1569 (Minutes and Accounts, ii, pp. 13-14, 24-5).

April 15, 1569

Parish register entry recording Joan Shakespeare's baptism, 1569

Joan, John and Mary Shakespeare’s fifth child, was baptized on April 15, 1569, according to the Holy Trinity Church parish register. It was a normal practice at the time to use the name of a deceased child for later offspring.

January 27, 1570

The chamberlain’s account presented to the Stratford-upon-Avon Corporation, including the first recorded payments to troupes of actors visiting the town

In the later part of the 16th century, the chamberlains' accounts submitted to the Corporation show regular payments to traveling troupes of players.