Back to exhibition

Sharing Shakespeare's Story

Queen Elizabeth I Warrant

The Birthplace Trust is lucky enough to hold a signature of Queen Elizabeth I. Here we see her signing off a warrant (authorising the issue of a tabard to a newly appointed herald) on 24th January 1592. This year, incidentally, also marks the end of William Shakespeare’s “lost years”, the year Robert Greene branded him an “upstart crow”! Elizabeth’s signature is large (several inches across) and ornate. Its grandiosity is certainly in keeping with her royal status. It has been suggested the flourishes might be a method to make the signature more difficult to forge

16 responses
Response by

Maria



This is my favourite item because it is very historical.

Response by

Enung

This was the actual Queen Elizabeth I's actual signature which amazed me because Elizabeth I put her own hands on it!

Response by

Marwa

The letter is very old and precious and has her actual signature.

Response by

Ayushma



I liked the Elizabeth I signature because she actually touched the ppaper and wrote it. I felt so special.

Response by

Finley

The signature is my favourite item because Queen Elizabeth I, over 400 years ago, actually touched and signed this actual piece of parchment. I think it is amazing we can actually see this today!

Response by

Melissa



The signature is my favourite item because Queen Elizabeth I actually touched that paper.

Response by

Jamie

The signature is my favourite because Queen Elizabeth I wrote it and it's very old.

Response by

Elizabeth



I like the signature because it is my name and the Elizabethan writing is so curly.

Response by

Riwaj

Queen Elizabeth I was the queen in Shakespeare's time so it's amazing to see what her handwriting was like.

Response by

Josh

This is my favourite item because it was actually written by Queen Elizabeth I and it's so amazing that it survived for about 400 - 500 years to now.

Response by

Bethany

It is really amazing because Queen Elizabeth I actually touched and wrote on that piece of paper and we saw it. It is one historical thing and it is super amazing. I loved it so much.

Response by

Nischal

This is my favourite collections item because it blew my mind when I saw where Queen Elizabeth I put her hand and it actually wasn't a fake.

Response by

Liam



The Elizabeth I signature is my favourite item because it is an original and is more than 400 years old.

Response by

Mahhum

Response by

Ruksar

Response by

Tanisha

See also