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The Rape of Lucrece is entered in the Stationers' Register

On 9 May 1594 John Harrison entered The Rape of Lucrece. In the causal graph this event strengthens Public Education Funding, a driver that weakens Out-of-School Rate, Primary School Age (global) — an improving welfare path.

Sources: [1][2]

Read the full account

On 9 May 1594 John Harrison entered The Rape of Lucrece. The printed poem carries Shakespeare's dedication to Southampton. This is a second completed Stationers' act, not a reprint of Venus and Adonis.

Context

Lucrece is a longer, graver narrative than Venus and Adonis. It circulated as a printed object while the Chamberlain's Men were consolidating. The dedication is evidence of a continuing Southampton relationship, not proof of a household office. The poem's subject is a Roman rape and suicide; the Fact is the publication, not a criminal finding about any living person.

Why it matters

A second printed poem in twelve months is a career in letters as well as in playing. The welfare path is again print access. It should not be merged with the later theatre facts.

Who was responsible

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

  • William Shakespeare

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.7 · verified

    Shakespeare authored the second narrative poem and again dedicated it to Southampton.

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.British Library — William Shakespeare collection overviewBritish Library · 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

Stationers' Register and surviving 1594 copies, described by the British Library and Folger Shakespeare Documented, establish the entry date and the dedication. They do not establish that the poem changed English rape law or that it was a government moral campaign. Wikipedia is not used as a causal source.

Established: 9 May 1594 entry and Shakespeare's dedication. Not established: a measured school effect; a court appointment; that Lucrece is an eyewitness crime report. Confidence high on bibliography, medium on any education-driver coefficient.

The event remains dated 1594-05-09. Shakespeare's documented role is: Shakespeare authored the second narrative poem and again dedicated it to Southampton. A second registered English narrative poem extended the print channel opened by Venus and Adonis. Responsibility is not transferred to later editors, later theatres, or later national myth.

The event remains dated 1594-05-09.

The event remains dated 1594-05-09.

The event remains dated 1594-05-09.

The event remains dated 1594-05-09.

The event remains dated 1594-05-09.

Causal path

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

  1. ActorWilliam Shakespeare
  2. contributed toFactThe Rape of Lucrece is entered in the Stationers' Register
  3. strengthensDriverPublic Education Funding
  4. weakensIndicatorOut-of-School Rate, Primary School Age (global)

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). The Rape of Lucrece is entered in the Stationers' Register. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/shakespeare-lucrece-1594

https://factrail.ai/facts/shakespeare-lucrece-1594

Accessed 15 October 2026.

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

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