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MS Ashmole 208, folio 207 recto
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Document-specific information
Creator: Simon Forman
Title: The Bocke of Plaies and Notes therof per forman for Common Pollicie
Date: 1611
Repository: Bodleian Library, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
Call number and opening: MS Ashmole 208, fol. 200-207v 

Modernized/Translated transcription

[fol. 207r]

In Macbeth at the Globe 1610 the 20 of April, Saturday

There was to be observed first how Macbeth and Banquo, 2 noblemen of Scotland, riding through a wood, there stood before them 3 women fairies or nymphs, and saluted Macbeth, saying 3 times unto him, "Hail Macbeth, king of Codon [thane of Cawdor], for thou shall be a king but shall beget no kings," etc. Then said Banquo, "What, all to Macbeth, and nothing to me?" There said the nymphs, "Hail to thee, Banquo, thou shall beget kings, yet be no king." And so they departed and came to the court of Scotland to Duncan, king of Scots, and it was in the days of Edward the Confessor, and Duncan bade them both kindly welcome, and made Macbeth forthwith Prince of Northumberland, and sent him home to his own castle and appointed Macbeth to provide for him for he would sup with him the next day at night. And did so. And Macbeth contrived to kill Duncan, and through the persuasion of his wife did that night murder the king in his own castle being his guest. And there were many prodigies seen that night and the day before. And when Macbeth had murdered the king, the blood on his hands could not be washed off by any means, nor from his wife's hands which handled the bloody daggers in hiding them. By which means they became both much amazed and affronted. The murder being known, Duncan's 2 sons fled, the one to England, the

Semi-diplomatic transcription

[fol. 207r]

In Mackbeth at the glod 1610 the 20

of Aprill [planetary symbol for Saturday]. ther was to be obserued firste

howe Mackbeth and Bancko 2 noblemen

of Scotland Ridinge thorowe a wod the [sic] stode

befor them 3 women feiries or Nimiphes [sic]

And saluted Mackbeth sayinge .l. 3 tyms

vnto him. haille Mackbeth. king of Codon

for thou shalt be a kinge but shalt beget

No kinges &c. then said Bancko What all

to Mackbeth And nothing to me ther

said the nimphes haille to thee Banko

thou shalt beget kinges. yet be no kinge

And so they departed & cam to the Courte

of Scotland to Dunkin king of Scotes

and yt was in the dais of Edward the

Confessor. And Dunkin bad them both kind

ly wellcom. And made Mackbeth forth

with Prince of Northumberland. and

sent him hom to his own castell and ap

pointed mackbeth to prouid for him for

he wold Sup with him the next dai at

night. & did soe. And mackebeth contri

ved to kill Dunckin. & thorowe the persuasi

on of his wife did that night Murder

the kinge in his own Castell beinge his guest

And ther were many prodigies seen that

night & the dai before. And when Mack

Beth had murdred the kinge the blod on

his handes could not be washed of by Any

means. nor from his wiues handes which

handled the bluddi daggers in hiding them

By which meanes they became both moch ama

zed & Affronted. the murder being knowen

Dunckins 2 sonnes fled the on to England

the

Item Creator
Simon Forman
Item Title
The Bocke of Plaies and Notes therof per forman for Common Pollicie
Item Date
1611
Repository
Bodleian Library, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
Call Number
MS Ashmole 208, fol. 207r