events of 1581, according to wikipedia:

    * January 16 – The English Parliament outlaws Roman Catholicism.
    * April 4 – After circumnavigating the world, Sir Francis Drake is knighted by Elizabeth I.
    * July 26 – The Northern Netherlands (Union of Utrecht) proclaim their independence from Spain in the Act of Abjuration. They abjure loyalty to Philip II of Spain as their sovereign, and appoint Francois, Duke of Anjou as the new sovereign of the Netherlands.
    * August 28 – The army of king Stefan Batory of Poland begins its siege of the Russian garrison of Pskov

1583

EVENTS OF 1585

January–June

• January 12 – The Netherlands adopts the Gregorian calendar.
• February – The Spanish seize Brussels.
• April 24 – Pope Sixtus V succeeds Pope Gregory XIII as the 227thpope.

July–December

• July 7 – The Treaty of Nemours forces King Henry III of France to capitulate to the demands of the Catholic League.
• August 8 – John Davis enters Cumberland Sound in his quest for theNorthwest Passage.
• August 17 – Antwerp is captured by Spanish forces under the Prince of Parma, who orders Protestants to leave the city. As a result, over half of the 100.000 inhabitants flee to the northern provinces. Furthermore, upon hearing of the capture of Antwerp, a relief fleet send to raise the siege instead blockades the Schelde, preventing any and all ships from reaching Antwerp for two centuries. This effectively destroys Antwerps position as important trade city and de-facto capitol of the Dutch provinces. Its position is taken over by various northern cities, most prominently Amsterdam.
• August 17 – A first group of colonists under the charge of Ralph Lanelands in the New World to create Roanoke Colony. This group will depart the following June.
• August 20 – The Treaty of Nonsuch is signed, committing England to support the Dutch Revolt.

Undated

• The Eighth War of Religion (also known as the War of the Three Henrys) begins in France.

• Chocolate is introduced to Europe commercially.
• England enters the Eighty Years' War.
• Sir Walter Raleigh sends an expedition to establish a colony onRoanoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina. The settlers face many problems, and soon abandon the colony.