22 July - William Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice, was entered into the Stationers’ Register

 

On July 22, 1598, William Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice, was entered into the Stationers’ Register. This register, maintained by the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, was a record of all published works, giving the Crown tight control over printed material. The registration of Shakespeare's play was a significant event, as it provided legal protection against unauthorized copying and distribution. This measure was enforced by decree of Queen Elizabeth I, who sought to regulate and control the content of all published works in England, ensuring that they adhered to the Crown's standards and censorship laws. The Merchant of Venice remains one of Shakespeare’s most studied and performed plays, renowned for its complex characters and themes of justice, mercy, and prejudice.