Collection 5: "Holinshed's Chronicles" by Raphael Holinshed

Herewith the foresaid women vanished immediately out of their sight....Shortly
after, the Thane of Cawdor being condemned at Forres of treason against the King committed, his lands, livings, and offices were given of the King’s liberality to Macbeth....

Macbeth, sore troubled herewith, for that he saw by this means his hope sore hindered...he began to take counsel how he might usurp the kingdom by force, having a just quarrel so to do (as he took the matter), for that Duncan did what in him lay to defraud him of all manner of title and claim which he might, in time to come, pretend unto the crown.

Macbeth, sore troubled herewith, for that he saw by this means his hope sore hindered...he began to take counsel how he might usurp the kingdom by force, having a just quarrel so to do (as he took the matter), for that Duncan did what in him lay to defraud him of all manner of title and claim which he might, in time to come, pretend unto the crown.

Macbeth, sore troubled herewith, for that he saw by this means his hope sore hindered...he began to take counsel how he might usurp the kingdom by force, having a just quarrel so to do (as he took the matter), for that Duncan did what in him lay to defraud him of all manner of title and claim which he might, in time to come, pretend unto the crown.

The words of the three Weird Sisters also (of whom before ye have heard) greatly encouraged him hereunto; but specially his wife lay sore upon him to attempt the thing, as she that was very ambitious, burning in unquenchable desire to bear the name of a queen.

This was but a counterfeit zeal of equity showed by him, partly against his natural inclination, to purchase thereby the favor of the people.

This was but a counterfeit zeal of equity showed by him, partly against his natural inclination, to purchase thereby the favor of the people.

This was but a counterfeit zeal of equity showed by him, partly against his natural inclination, to purchase thereby the favor of the people.

For the prick of conscience (as it chanceth ever in tyrants and such as attain to any estate by unrighteous means) caused him ever to fear lest he should be served of the same cup as he had ministered to his predecessor.

The words also of the three Weird Sisters would not out of his mind, which as they promised him the kingdom, so likewise did they promise it at the same time unto the posterity of Banquo.

It chanced by the benefit of the dark night that, though the father were slain, yet the son....escaped that danger; and afterward, having some inkling (by the admonition of some friends which he had in the court) how his life was sought no less than his father’s, who was slain not by chance-medley (as by the handling of the matter Macbeth would have had it to appear) but even upon a prepensed device, whereupon to avoid further peril he fled into Wales.

It chanced by the benefit of the dark night that, though the father were slain, yet the son....escaped that danger; and afterward, having some inkling (by the admonition of some friends which he had in the court) how his life was sought no less than his father’s, who was slain not by chance-medley (as by the handling of the matter Macbeth would have had it to appear) but even upon a prepensed device, whereupon to avoid further peril he fled into Wales.