The cause of his death is unknown. Some scholars have suggested that the signatures on his will indicate that he was already sick at the date of signing, March, 25, 1616.
Shakespeare was buried on April 25, 1616 in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford, where he had been baptised just over 52 years earlier. His tomb, which lies beneath the floor of the church inside the chancel rail, is covered by a stone inscribed with a curse :
Good friend for Jesus sake forbearTo dig the dust enclosed here!Blest be the man that spares these stones,And curst be he that moves my bones.