Nationality words link to articles with information on the nation's poetry or literature (for instance, Irish or France).

• William Basse, Three Pastoral Elegies^[1]
• Francis Beaumont, Salamacis and Hermaphroditus, published anonymously; a translation from Ovid's Metamorphoses^[1]
• John Beaumont, The Metamorphoses of Tabacco^[1]
• Nicholas Breton:
  • The Mother's Blessing^[1]
  • Olde Mad-Cappes New Gally-Mawfrey^[1]
  • The Soules Harmony^[1]
  • A True Description of Unthankfulnesse; or, An Enemie to Ingratitude^[1]
• Thomas Campion's Observations in the Art of English Poesie (in response, Samuel Daniel published Defence of Ryme 1603); London: by Richard Field for Andrew Wise; criticism^[2]
• John Davies, Mirum in Modum^[1]
• Francis and Walter Davison, editors, A Poetical Rhapsody
• Thomas Deloney, Strange Histories of Kings, Princes, Dukes, Earles, Lords, Ladies, Knights, and Gentlemen, published anonymously, with music^[1]
• Samuel Rowlands, 'Tis Merrie When Gossips Meete (has been attributed to Robert Greene, and part of it is plagaiarized from him)^[1]
• Robert Southwell, St. Peter's Complaint, with Other Poems
• William Warner, Albions England, fifth edition, in 13 books, with Epitome^[1]

• Jean Bertaut, Recueil de quelques vers amoureux,("Collection of Some Amorous Verse"), France^[3]
• Giambattista Marino, Le Rime, Italy
• Jean Passerat, Le premier livre des poèmes. Reueus & augmentez par l'autheur en ceste derniere édition, à Paris
• Lope de Vega, La hermosura de Angélica ("The Beauty of Angelica"), Spain
• Cristóbal de Virués, El Monserrate segundo Spain

• January 24 – Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland (died 1666), English nobleman, politician and writer
• Also:
  • Giacomo Badoaro (died 1654), Venetian nobleman and poet
  • Owen Feltham (died 1668), English essayist and poet
  • Juan Pérez de Montalbán (died 1638), Spanish dramatist, poet and novelist
  • Claude de L'Estoile (died 1652), French playwright and poet
  • Pierre Le Moyne (died 1671), French Jesuit poet
  • William Strode (died 1645), English poet

• April 3 – Siôn Tudur (born 1522), Welsh language poet
• August 29 – Sebastian Klonowic (born 1545), Polish poet and composer
• September 14 – Jean Passerat (born 1534), French political satirist and poet
• October 30 – Jean-Jacques Boissard (born 1528), French antiquary and Latin poet
• Also:
  • Martín del Barco Centenera (born 1535), Spanish cleric, explorer, author and poet
  • Bartholomew Griffin (born unknown), English poet
  • Hans Wilhelm Kirchhof (born 1525), German Landsknecht, baroque poet and translator

• 16th century in literature
• Dutch Renaissance and Golden Age literature
• Elizabethan literature
• English Madrigal School
• French Renaissance literature
• Renaissance literature
• Spanish Renaissance literature
• University Wits