The Strange Story of James VI | Witches, Tobacco and Britain #kings #scottishhistory #stirlingcastle

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]This Scottish king united [music] Britain and then almost never came home.

[00:00:06]James VI from Scotland became king when he was just 13 months old after his mother, Mary [music] Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate.

[00:00:15]He grew into one of Scotland's most intelligent [music] and most unusual rulers.

[00:00:21]After storms nearly sank the ship carrying his wife, James [music] became convinced witches were trying to kill him.

[00:00:29]His fear helped [music] fuel Scotland's brutal witch hunts and he even wrote a book on witchcraft.

[00:00:35]But witches were not [music] his only obsession.

[00:00:39]James also wrote A Counterblast to Tobacco, >> [music] >> one of the earliest attacks on smoking, calling it filthy and dangerous.

[00:00:49]Then in 1603, >> [music] >> Elizabeth I died without an heir.

[00:00:55]James rode south and became [music] James I of England.

[00:01:01]For the first time, Scotland and England shared one king.

[00:01:04]>> [music] >> But after leaving Scotland, he returned only once.

[00:01:11]The king who united Britain became Scotland's [music] absent king.