Second edition, revised and enlarged, following the first of 1577. "The first continuous and authoritative narrative account of British history written in the vernacular" (DLB), Holinshed's work was also the principal source for Shakespeare's plays on English history. With the usual leaves of expurgated text in Volumes 2 and 3 replacing portions dealing with Anglo-Scottish relations and other matters by order of the Privy Council. STC 13569; Lowndes, page 1087.

The First and Second Volumes of Chronicles. [8] (of 10]), 250; [4], 202, [2] pages. bound with: The Second Volume of Chronicles: Conteining the description . . . of Ireland . . . Whereunto is annexed the description of Scotland. 61, [1]; [12], 183, [1]; 464, [28], [26] (of [28]) pages, with all the indexes bound at end; lacks initial and final blanks. Internally an attractive copy, with only marginal foxing on first title page, repaired clean tear across blank lower margin of O4 in The Chronicles of Ireland, small hole in outer margin of H1 in The historie of Scotland affecting few letters in sidenote on recto, dampstain in upper outer corners toward end, and stain on front pastedown from bookplate removal.

The Third Volume of Chronicles, beginning at duke William . . . the Conqueror . . . and continued . . . to the year 1586. 1592, [48] (of [62]) pages, with leaves in gathering B trimmed in margins and possibly supplied from another copy; lacks the title and following 3 preliminaries (replaced with reproductions), A6, B2, B6, and last 7 leaves of index. Occasional dampstaining and ink blots, crude marginal restoration at beginning and end with text loss on first leaf, clean tear across L4 and 7M1 slightly affecting text, crudely repaired clean tears in 4D4 and 5T2.5.