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The year 1602 in literature involved some significant events.

Events

• On February 2, the King's Men perform Twelfth Night at the Middle Temple.
• On May 4, Richard Hakluyt is installed as prebendary of Westminster.
• On November 8, The Bodleian Library at Oxford University opens to the public.
• Sir Henry Wotton uncovers a plot to murder King James VI of Scotland.

New books

• Thomas Campion - Observations in the Art of English Poetry
• Richard Carew - A Survey of Cornwall
• Sir Hugh Plat - Delightes for Ladies (book of recipes and household hints)

New drama

• Anonymous - Thomas Lord Cromwell published
• Henry Chettle - Hoffmann
• John Davies of Hereford - Mirum in Modum
• Thomas Dekker and Thomas Middleton - Blurt, Master Constable
• Ben Jonson - The Poetaster published
• Sir David Lyndsay - Humanity and Sensuality published
• John Marston - Antonio and Mellida published
• William Shakespeare - Hamlet performed, The Merry Wives of Windsor published

Poetry

• Giambattista Marino - Le Rime
• Cristóbal de Virués - El Monserrate segundo

Births

• March 29 - John Lightfoot, theologian (died 1675)
• May 2 - Athanasius Kircher, scholar (died 1680)
• May 10 - Samuel Newman, Biblical commentator (died 1663)
• date unknown - Robert Baillie, Protestant historian (died 1662)
• date unknown - Juan Pérez de Montalbán, dramatist and poet (died1638)

Deaths

• February 13 - Alexander Nowell, theologian (born c1507)
• October 13 - Franciscus Junius (the elder), theologian (born 1545)
• October 30 - Jean-Jacques Boissard, poet (born 1528)
• date unknown - Bartholomew Griffin, poet
• date unknown - Jean Passerat, poet and satirist (born 1534)
• date unknown - Jean Pithou, author (born 1534)