The King Who Feared Witches: James I and the Dark Arts

Did you know the King of Great Britain was personally convinced that Satan was sending assassins to murder him and his Queen?In this harrowing episode of Wyrd Wessex, we dive into the paranoid mind of King James I and the destructive book he wrote, Daemonologie. Driven by his own trauma after surviving a supposed witchcraft attack at sea, James crafted a manual that turned folk healers into high-treason enemies and justified the use of barbaric torture. We track the dark, bloody legacy of his obsession from the North Berwick trials to the final days of the infamous Witchfinder General.In this episode, we discuss sensitive historical details, including graphic descriptions of torture methods and executions.The Horrors We Uncover:The Royal Target: How the North Berwick coven’s supposed attack on the King and Queen's ship convinced James that the Devil was trying to seize his throne.The King's Torture Chamber: The precise, graphic details of the torture used to secure confessions, including the pilliwinks (finger-crushers), the scold’s bridle, and the boot that broke bones.The Devil's Kiss: The disturbing and degrading sexualised details forced from victims, such as the Osculum Infame (Kiss of Shame) and the search for the Witches’ Mark.The Witchfinder General: The monstrous, exploitative career of Matthew Hopkins, who used James's laws to send hundreds to the gallows during the English Civil War.The Final Victim: The incredible story of Helen Duncan, the last person jailed under the archaic Witchcraft Act in 1944, over three centuries after James I'd reign.Did you know? James I’s book was written as a direct counter-attack against sceptical scholars who believed witchcraft was nonsense.Listen to the full episode now to understand the terrifying human cost of one man's fear.Stay Wyrd!www.wyrdwessex.co.ukBuy our merch hereWritten by Emma & Craig Brooks and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy StevensEdited by Craig BrooksIntro music by Leonell Cassio - The Paranormal Is Real (ft. Carrie) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.