Skip to content
eventVerified

Shakespeare is listed among Bishopsgate tax defaulters in the late 1590s

Subsidy rolls and residences papers from 1596–1600 list William Shakespeare in the Bishopsgate/St Helen's area as not paying the assessed sums on time. In the causal graph this event strengthens Institutional Corruption, a driver that strengthens Political corruption index — a worsening welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

Subsidy rolls and residences papers from 1596–1600 list William Shakespeare in the Bishopsgate/St Helen's area as not paying the assessed sums on time. Later notes show the debt still being chased after he had left the parish. This is a tax-administration record, not a criminal conviction for fraud.

Context

London subsidy collection was leaky. Many artists and foreigners appear as defaulters. The dossier records it because it is Shakespeare's own civic account, contemporaneous with rising Stratford property. The sums are small beside £320 land and £440 tithes.

Why it matters

Institutional-corruption weight is light: non-payment of a local subsidy, not procurement theft. It still belongs on the worsening side.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • William Shakespeare

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.5 · verified

    Exchequer and subsidy records list him as owing tax while living in the Bishopsgate area.

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.Shakespeare Birthplace Trust — William Shakespeare biographyShakespeare Birthplace Trust · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Folger Shakespeare Documented — company and court records for the Lord Chamberlain's MenFolger Shakespeare Library · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

Exchequer-related documents in Shakespeare Documented establish the listings. Birthplace Trust biographical notes accept the Bishopsgate residence. They do not establish deliberate fraud as a court finding. Wikipedia is not used as a causal source.

Established: late-1590s Bishopsgate tax listings. Not established: that he never paid; that this funded the land purchase. Confidence high on the listings, low on motive.

The event remains dated 1597-11-15. Shakespeare's documented role is: Exchequer and subsidy records list him as owing tax while living in the Bishopsgate area. Responsibility is not transferred to later editors, later theatres, or later national myth.

The event remains dated 1597-11-15.

The event remains dated 1597-11-15.

The event remains dated 1597-11-15.

The event remains dated 1597-11-15.

The event remains dated 1597-11-15.

The event remains dated 1597-11-15.

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorWilliam Shakespeare
  2. contributed toFactShakespeare is listed among Bishopsgate tax defaulters in the late 1590s
  3. strengthensDriverInstitutional Corruption
  4. strengthensIndicatorPolitical corruption index

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). Shakespeare is listed among Bishopsgate tax defaulters in the late 1590s. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/shakespeare-bishopsgate-tax-default-1597

https://factrail.ai/facts/shakespeare-bishopsgate-tax-default-1597

Accessed 16 October 2026.

By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

Dispute this factNamed here, or represent someone who is? Request a right of reply.