|  | Date | Event(s) | 
	
| 1 | 1571 | 1571—1571: Presbyterianism introduced into England by Thomas Cartwright1571—1571: Repeal of Act prohibiting lending of money on interest -  gradual change from
'subsistence economy' to 'cash economy' resulted1571—1571: Beginning of penal legislation against Catholics in England23 Jan 1571—23 Jan 1571: Opening of the Royal Exchange in London, founded by Sir Thomas Gresham - 
this building destroyed in Great Fire of London 1666
 | 
| 2 | 1577 | 1577—1577: James Burbage opens first theatre in London
 | 
| 3 | 1579 | 1579—1579: Act of Uniformity in matters of religion enforced
 | 
| 4 | 1580 | 1580—1580: Congregational movement founded by Robert Browne about this time1580—1580: Colonisation of Ireland6 Apr 1580—6 Apr 1580: Dover Straits earthquake, largest in the recorded history of England, mentioned
by Shakespeare -  dozens of ships sunk and a tsunami hit Calais
 | 
| 5 | 1581 | 1581—1581: English Levant Company founded16 Jan 1581—16 Jan 1581: English Parliament outlaws Roman Catholicism4 Apr 1581—4 Apr 1581: Francis Drake knighted by Elizabeth I aboard the Golden Hind after
circumnavigating the world
 | 
| 6 | 1583 | 1583—1583: University of Edinburgh founded1583—1583: Foundation of Cambridge University Press by Thomas ThomasAug 1583—Aug 1583: Sir Humphrey Gilbert attempts to establish English authority at St John's,
Newfoundland
 | 
| 7 | 1584 | 4 Jun 1584—4 Jun 1584: Sir Walter Raleigh establishes first English colony in the New World, on
Roanoke Island, Virginia (now in North Carolina) -  the so-called 'Lost Colony'
 | 
| 8 | 1585 | 1585—1585: Foundation of Oxford University Press
 | 
| 9 | 1587 | 1587—1587: Introduction of potatoes to England8 Feb 1587—8 Feb 1587: Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, at Fotheringay Castle, near Peterborough19 Apr 1587—19 Apr 1587: Sir Francis Drake sinks the Spanish fleet in Cadiz harbour11 Aug 1587—11 Aug 1587: Raleigh's second expedition to New World lands in North Carolina -  first child
born in the New World of English parents was Virginia Dare (Aug 18)
 | 
| 10 | 1588 | 1588—1588: Invention of shorthand by Dr Timothy Bright19 Jul 1588—19 Jul 1588: Spanish Armada sighted off the Lizard (had set sail from Lisbon in late May)29 Jul 1588—29 Jul 1588: Defeat of Spanish Armada off Gravelines
 | 
| 11 | 1591 | 1591—1591: Trinity College, Dublin, founded
 | 
| 12 | 1592 | 1592—1592: A Congregational (or Independent) Church formed in London1592—1592: Scotland: Presbyterian Church formally established -  all ministers equal -  no bishops - 
secular commissaries appointed by the Crown
 | 
| 13 | 1593 | 1593—1593: British statute mile established by law
 | 
| 14 | 1594 | 1594—1594: Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, leads Irish rebellion against English rule (-1603)
 | 
| 15 | 1597 | 1597—1597: Poor Law Act for erection of parish workhouses for the Poor -  Poor Rate collection
allowed
 |