Macbeth
Edition. Only in the folio, 1623.
Date. Dr. Forman states in his MS. Diary that he saw this play “at the Globe, 1610, the 20th of April, Saturday;” but it does not follow by any means that it was then a new play. I agree with Mr. Collier in thinking that the mention of “twofold balls and treble sceptres” should induce us to place it not very far from the accession of James I. (Oct. 24, 1604), and therefore in 1605 or 1606. Malone thought there was an allusion (in II. 3) to the state of the corn-market in 1606, and to the conduct of the Jesuit Garnet on his trial in that year; but this is little more than fancy.
Origin. Hollinshed’s Chronicle.