Holinshed's "The History of Scotland."
One of Shakespeare’s primary history sources.
Verso: Text in English printed in two columns in a blackletter font on laid paper. Heading “The Historie of Scotlande” and marginal notes printed in a Roman font. Paginated [2]60and a "catchword", about, in the bottom margin. A woodcut illustration of King Edgar.
Recto: As Verso, with text only.
Printer: Henry Bynneman, London.
Date: 1577.
Content: A section of the text on Verso describes the seizure of the Western Iles by Magnus, and the consequent Scottish fury.
“…At length came Magnus king of Norway with a great fleete, and sayling aboute the Westerne Iles, garnished all the strengthes within them in most defencible wise, with men, munition and vitayles, usurping the dominion as soveraigne Lord of the same Iles: and at the same time.ordeyned those lawes and constitutions which are used there amongst the inhabitants even unto these dayes....
The Scottish men having great indignation that the Iles being aunciently parcell of the crowne, should be thus alienated from the same, sent oratours unto Edgar (who was as ye have herd the fourth sonne of king Malcolm) desiring him most instantly to come into Scotland, to recover his father's heritage and crowne of Scotland out of the usurpers handes."
Condition: This leaf is in fair antiquarian condition. The margins have been trimmed with the loss of a few letters of the marginal notes and the pagination. There is age-related surface marking, edge tears, and browning. Nevertheless, the main body of text is complete and legible and the woodcut is sharply printed. The leaf is unconditionally guaranteed genuine.
Notes: Holinshed was Shakespeare's favourite and most trusted source and he used it for more than a third of his plays, including Macbeth, King Lear, Cymbeline and the English history plays such as Richard III. At times Shakespeare followed the text of the Chronicles closely, even echoing its words and phrases, at other times using it as an inspiration for plot details or deviating entirely from its account, preferring other sources or his own imagination.
In 1603, James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne, becoming James I of England. The king became a patron of the playwright's acting company. London was alive with an interest in all things Scottish, and Shakespeare turned to Scottish history for material.
Holinshed’s narrative of witches, prophesy, treason, execution and murder were topics that fascinated King James to the point of obsession.
A second revised edition of The Chronicles was published in 1587 without the woodcut illustrations.
Size: Size of leaf: approx. 275x185 mm.
Item No: PSE145
