The University of Kansas' Kenneth Spencer Research Library has a copy of the 1577 first edition of Holinshed's Chronicles. Please visit their website for a complete description of this book and its provenance. Here is the auction notice of the book.
The Killigrew Family Connection with Henry Neville
The book has the name William Killigrew written on the title page. William Killigrew was the younger brother of Henry Killigrew; Henry Killigrew was the father of Anne Killigrew Neville, the wife of Henry Neville.
When Henry Neville sent letters from London, he often signed them from "Lothbury." That is where William Killigrew lived; whether Henry Neville stayed with William (his wife's uncle) or Henry (his wife's father) is unclear. This needs further research. In either case, he certainly could have had access to William Killigrew's library staying in Lothbury.
This is the first edition of the book; it is conventional wisdom that the author of the works of Shakespeare used the 1587, second edition of the book. However, it is very possible that the author actually consulted both editions. It is worth noting that Henry Killigrew was one of the three people chosen to review and censor the second edition of the book before it was published.
Several sections of this copy are annotated. They seem to have a close connection with the works of Shakespeare.
King John
On page 559, in the section on King John, there is a manicule pointing to this text (spelling modernized):
About this time, Queen Eleanor the mother of King John departed this life, consumed rather through sorrow and anguish of mind than of any other natural infirmity.
Queen Elinor was a key character in the play King John and her death is mentioned.
There is a mark also next to this text on the same page, describing a fish man (the so-called Wild Man of Orford) :
A fish was taken by fishers in their nets as they were at sea, resembling in shape a wild or savage man.
This is language quite similar to the description of Caliban in The Tempest, 2.2:
What have we here? a man or a fish? dead or alive? A fish: he smells like a fish; a very ancient and fish-like smell.
Henry VI, Part I
Most importantly, on page 1239, in the section on Henry VI, this text has a mark:
After this, the Earl caused certain Bulwarks to be made round the town, casting trenches between the one and the other, laying ordnance in every place where he saw that any battery might be devised.
Compare to Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part I, 1.4:
But now thou shalt not. Be thou ruled by me:
Chief master-gunner am I of this town;
Something I must do to procure me grace.
The prince's espials have informed me
How the English, in the suburbs close intrench'd,
Wont, through a secret grate of iron bars
In yonder tower, to overpeer the city,
And thence discover how with most advantage
They may vex us with shot, or with assault.
To intercept this inconvenience,
A piece of ordnance 'gainst it I have placed;
And even these three days have I watch'd,
If I could see them.
Now do thou watch, for I can stay no longer.
If thou spy'st any, run and bring me word;
And thou shalt find me at the governor's.
The Wikipedia entry for Henry VI, Part I, explains that this section of the play is taken directly from Holinshed's Chronicles, even though much of the play is taken from Hall's Chronicle:
Another piece of information unique to Holinshed occurs when the Master Gunner mentions that the English have taken control of some of the suburbs of Orléans (1.4.2). Holinshed reports that the English captured several of the suburbs on the other side of the Loire, something not found in Hall.
Since there are so few annotations in the book, this mark on a passage that is directly reflected in Henry VI, Part I is particularly noteworthy.
This section about Henry VI is also marked:
The 1571 Earthquake
The book also has a mark on the section of Queen Elizabeth that deals with the earthquake in Herefordshire February 17, 1571:
Neville and Iron Ordnance
Fans of this blog know I have series of posts called Cannons in the Canon detailing how Neville's experiences as a manufacturer of iron ordnance influenced the works of Shakespeare. This is a prime example of such synergy. The highlighted section in Holinshed's Chronicle -- and in the play Henry VI, Part I -- deal with ordnance explicitly. It was Neville's interest at the time and its reflected in his play writing.
Connection with Thomas Killigrew
Thomas Killigrew was a dramatist and theater manage and the grandson of William Killigrew. His father, Robert Killigrew, was very closely connected to Henry Neville; Neville explicitly mentions Robert in his will. Thomas owned a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio; it is currently at Meisei University in Tokyo.
