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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
[fol. 207v]
[other to] Wales to save themselves. They being fled they were supposed guilty of the murder of their father, which was nothing so. Then was Macbeth crowned king, and then he, for fear of Banquo, his old companion, that he should beget kings but be no king himself, he contrived the death of Banquo and caused him to be murdered on the way as he rode. The next night being at supper with his noblemen, whom he had bid to a feast (to the which also Banquo should have come), he began to speak of noble Banquo and to wish that he were there. And as he thus did, standing up to drink a carouse to him, the ghost of Banquo came and sat down in his chair behind him. And he turning about to sit down again saw the ghost of Banquo which fronted him so that he fell into a great passion of fear and fury, uttering many words about his murder, by which when they heard that Banquo was murdered they suspected Macbeth.
Then Macduff fled to England to the king's son, and so they raised an army and came into Scotland, and at Dunsinane overthrew Macbeth. In the meantime, while Macduff was in England, Macbeth slew Macduff's wife and children, and after, in the battle, Macduff slew Macbeth. Observe also how Macbeth's queen did rise in the night in her sleep and walk and talked and confessed all, and the doctor noted her words.
[fol. 207v]
[other to] Walles to saue them selues. they beinge
fled they were supposed guilty of the mur
der of their father which was nothinge soe
Then was Mackbeth. Crowned kinge
and then he for feare of Banko his old
Companion that he should beget kinges
but be no kinge him self. he contriued
the death of Banko and caused him
to be Murdred on the way as he Rode
The next night beinge at supper with
his noble Men whom he had bid to a
feaste to the which also Bancco should haue
com.) he began to speake of Noble Ba
nco and to wish that he wer ther. And
as he thus did standing vp to drincke a
Carouse to him. the ghoste of Banco
came and sate down in his cheier be
hind him. And he turninge About to
sit down Again sawe the goste of banco
which fronted him so. that he fell in to a
great passion of fear & fury. Vtteringe
many wordes about his murder by which
when they hard that Banco was Murdred
they Suspected Mackbet.
Then Mack Dove fled to England to the kinges
sonn. and soe they Raised an Army And cam
into scotland. and at dunston Anyse over
thrue Mackbet. In the meantyme whille
Mackdoue was in England Mackbet slewe
Mackdoues wife & children. and after in
the battelle Mackdoue slewe Mackbet.
Obserue Also howe Mackbetes quen did Rise in
the night in her slepe & walke and talked and
confessed all & the docter noted her wordes.