Raphael Holinshed, The... Chronicles, 1577 - Kings Cymbeline and Guiderius, 'History of England' p.47.

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Date:1577

Description:Shakespeare's source for Cymbeline.

Besides the story of Guiderius, which was based on myth and legend, Shakespeare found, in the 'Chronicles of Scotland', a tale of a nobleman and his two sons fighting off a Danish invasion. This may have provided the idea for the battle exploits of the Welsh outlaws, Arviragus and Guiderius with Belarius in Cymbeline (5,2, to 5,3).


Full title: Raphael Holinshed, The firste [laste] volume of chronicles of England, Scotlande and Irelande. Conteyning the description and chronicles of England from the first inhabiting unto the conquest; the description and chronicles of Scotland from the first originall of the Scotts nation, till the yeare of our Lorde 1571; The description and chronicles of Yrelande likewise from the firste originall of that nation untill the yeare 1547. Faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed. London, imprinted for George Bishop, 1577.


Timeline

The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.

1570s
Henri Estienne, A mervaylous discourse upon... Katherine de Medici…, 1575 - title page
Henri Estienne, A mervaylous discourse upon... Katherine de Medici…, 1575 - title page

Shakespeare may have owned this book. Shakespeare purchased New Place, the largest ...

1590s
William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis, 1594, leaf F4v.
William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis, 1594, leaf F4v.

Shakespeare’s first published works. The long poem, Venus and Adonis, was ...

1610s
Plutarch, The lives of the noble Grecians and Romaines, 1612 - Antony and Cleopatra, p. 922, detail.
Plutarch, The lives of the noble Grecians and Romaines, 1612 - Antony and Cleopatra, p. 922, detail.

Shakespeare followed this description of Cleopatra. Shakespeare became very ...

1630s
William Shakespeare, Quartos, Love's Labour's Lost, 1631 - title page
William Shakespeare, Quartos, Love's Labour's Lost, 1631 - title page

A play for the Blackfriars Theatre: Shakespeare's Love’s Labour’s Lost. The ...

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Donor ref:SR/OS 93 [2620-1-ii] (32/10495)

Source: The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust - Library

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