The Queen is dead... long live the King King James I of
EnglandShakespeare's last performance before Elizabeth I takes
place on February 2nd. Elizabeth dies on February 24th. James VI
of Scotland is proclaimed King of England, Scotland, France and
Ireland as James I. James is very enthusiastic about the
theatre, and in May Shakespeare's company is given letter of
patent to become the King's acting company. Despite the general
optimism that greets James I's accession, "political" sonnets
written by Shakespeare at this time seem to show he finds his
new role as a player/playwright/courtier hard to take. He is
forty years old and, like most men of his age, probably becoming
braver and more belligerent in his opinions.