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 ...

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

Wellcome Collection 40975i

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?]