# The Rape of Lucrece is entered in the Stationers' Register

Date: 1594

## The fact

On 9 May 1594 John Harrison entered The Rape of Lucrece. The printed poem carries [Shakespeare](/people/william-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.

## Evidence and sources

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.

## Significance

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.

## What is established and what is not

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

## People

- William Shakespeare: https://factrail.ai/people/william-shakespeare

## Drivers

- Public Education Funding: https://factrail.ai/drivers/edu-public-education-funding

## Sources

- https://www.bl.uk/people/william-shakespeare
- https://shakespearedocumented.folger.edu/

## Methodology

https://factrail.ai/methodology

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