Which stories about Shakespeare’s lost years lack strong historical evidence?

The period between 1585 and 1592 in William Shakespeare’s life is often referred to as the "lost years" because there is no historical documentation explaining how he spent his time before he emerged in London theater records.12

Because of this lack of evidence, several stories and conjectures have emerged over time, though they lack strong historical support:13

• Legal and social trouble: Stories suggest he was involved in stealing deer and subsequently faced trouble with a local magnate, Sir Thomas Lucy of Charlecote.1
• Employment: It has been speculated that he worked as a country schoolmaster.1
• Entry into theater: One popular legend claims he gained his initial entry into the world of theater by minding the horses of theatergoers.1
• Other activities: It has been conjectured that he served as a soldier, perhaps in the Low Countries, or that he spent time as a member of a great household.1

These narratives are largely considered speculative, as they often rely on unsatisfactory methods, such as attempting to extract biographical details from the internal content of his plays.1