The so-called "Northumberland Manuscript", kept in Alnwick Castle, is arguably one of the most significant Shakespeare-related documents in the world. But if you ask a Shakespearean scholar about it, he has probably never heard about it.

 

Shakespeare-biographers rarely mention this document since few historians are even aware of its existence. Still, the manuscript has several features which makes it compelling, unique, and exceptional.

 

The document was discovered in 1867 in Northumberland House, London. It was damaged by fire, having served as a wrapper around a series of manuscripts that were stitched together inside. From attempts on dating it one has concluded that it would be from 1596.