Holinshed's Chronicles (1577)

Malcolmes crueltie to purchas riches Such princely doings and noble vertues were found in this Malcolme for a season, that if the same had continued with him in his later age, there had neuer reygned any king in Scotland, that might haue bene thought to haue passed him in woorthy fame: neuerthelesse his excellent qualities were stayned at length by that reprochfull vice of vile auarice...

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A mutenie amongst the people of Lochquhaber The beginning of Duncanes reigne was very quiet & peaceable...but after it was perceyued how negligent he was in punishing offenders, many misruled persons tooke occasion thereof to trouble the peace and quiet state of the common wealth, by seditious commotions...

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Makdowald sleeth his wife and children and lastly his selfe Makdowald...gaue batayle vnto Makbeth, with the residue whiche remained with him, but being ouercome and fleeing for refuge into a castell...at length when he saw how he coulde neyther defend the hold any longer against his enimies, nor yet vpon surrender be suffered to depart with life saued, he first slew his wife & children, and lastly himselfe...

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The diuision of the realme of England, betwixe Canute and Edmond Ironside Canute king of Denmark...landed in England with a mighty hoste, and sleayng Etheldred, recouered the kingdome to the vse of the Danes, but yet one Edmond sonne to the forsayde Etheldred, surnamed Ironside, maynteyned the warre agaynst Canute for a season, till at length...they agreed to fight a combat singularly man to man, so to trie the mater betwixt them, who should reigne as king ouer the Englishmen.

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Three women supposing to be the weird sisters or feiries Shortly after happened a straunge and vncouth wonder, whiche afterwarde was the cause of muche trouble in the realme of Scotlande...It fortuned as Makbeth & Banquho iourneyed towarde Fores...there met them .iij. women in straunge & serly apparell, resembling creatures of an elder worlde...

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Makbeth vsurpeth the crowne. At length therefore communicating his purposed intent with his trustie frendes...vpon confidence of theyr promised ayde, he slewe the king at Enuernes...Then hauing a companie about him of such as he had made priuie to his enterpryce, he caused himselfe to be proclaymed king, and foorthwith went vnto Scone, where by common consent, he receyued the inuesture of the kingdome according to the accustomed maner.

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Makbeth studieth to aduance iustice Makbeth after the departure thus of Duncanes sonnes vsed great liberalitie towardes the nobles of the realme, thereby to winne their fauour, & when he saw that no man went about to trouble him, he set his whole intention to maintayne iustice, and to punishe all enormities and abuses, whiche had chaunced through the feeble and slouthfull administration of Duncane...

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The castell of Dunsinane buylded But Makbeth beeing once determined to haue the worke go forwarde, caused the Thanes of eche shire within the Realme, to come and helpe towardes that building...

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Malcolm Cammore crowned This was the end of Makbeth, after he had reigned vij. yeares ouer the Scottishmen. In the beginning of his raigne he accomplished many worthie actes, right profitable to the common wealthe...but afterwarde by illusion of the diuell, he defamed the same with most terrible crueltie... Malcolme Cammore thus recovering the realme...was crowned at Scone.

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