EPISODE · Sep 12, 2026 · 17 MIN

North Berwick Witch Trials: How King James VI Used Fear to Tighten Control

from The Proper British History Podcast: Kings, Queens, Wars, Empire, Politics, Revolutions, Royalty and the Historical Great Britain · host Podily

Exploring the North Berwick witch trials of 1590‑91, this episode unpacks how King James VI linked supernatural threats to political control in Scotland. Drawing on court records, contemporary correspondence and the king’s own writings, it shows how the panic served both as a response to stormy voyages and as an instrument against rivals. The narrative examines legal practice, social conditions and later mythmaking around witchcraft in early modern Scotland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 12, 2026

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North Berwick Witch Trials: How King James VI Used Fear to Tighten Control

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