Two witches tell Macbeth (representing the Earl of Bute) that he will be king and another, holding a noose, says he will be "Knight - the first that ever graced the Scottish annals". Etching, 1762.

London (facing the Union, Strand) : To be had of Gibby McSarcasm [i.e. Henry Howard] & by print & pamphlet sellers of London & Edinburgh, [1762]

1 print : etching ; image 12.1 x 16.1 cm

The magical installation or Macbeth invested ... Lettering continues at length. Speech bubbles from each of the three witches: "All hail Macbeth thou shalt be more than King"; "All hail Macbeth, thou shalt be King herafter"; "Henceforth be Knight - the first that ever graced the Scottish annals"; this third witch holds a noose. Macbeth replies: "Is it a scepter that I see before me? The handle toards my hand - come let me clutch thee". A sceptre is pictured floating towards him. The lettering continues and is interspersed with small pictures which take the place of words and letters in the text: "Deluded by [witch]craft, re[bell]ion and pride/ Macbeth even [picture of skeleton] and damn [playing card] on def[ie: picture of eye]d;/ As Shakespear h[picture of horse] told us the fat [...] disaster./ The Thane was a [picture of flower?] rite who murdered h [picture of eye]s master,/ And tho' with f[..] se Trs [?] he his [picture of king] cou'd ... moan,/ Yet he seizd on his [...] and mount[ed: picture of head] his throne! Beware t[hen] ye Monarchs of ... rites ... ware! Remember poor Dun[can] and ...n ye curst snare./ For ah w[hen] ... glory such as M... aspire/ Unended ambition ... blows up the [picture of fire]. With smiling & cringing & soft adu[lat?]ion; they pamper up princes [picture of finger: to?] sure R ... ination;/ And oft a good [king?] like a victim has bled,/ That his [crown] might devolve [to] a proud Re[bell]'s [Head]. Printed according to Act of Parliam. 17[52?]

British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, no. 3896

Wellcome Collection 40975i