How significant was King James VI in the witch-hunting in Scotland in the years 1590–97?
During the years 1590-97, witch-hunting in Scotland intensified, exhibiting a relatively large number of
executions and an extensive use of torture, however the significance of King James VI in this persecution is
debatable. While his personal involvement in the North Berwick witch trials fuelled popular belief and acted as
a guide for further witch-hunts, it is also necessary to consider his arguably sceptical stance on the matter after
1592, as well as the importance of political and legal factors in creating a volatile environment where
witch-hunting could thrive.
To some extent, it can be argued that King James VI was majorly significant in the Scottish witch-hunts from
1590–97, as his personal involvement gave the events royal approval and granted local officials more freedom
to perform trials, torture and executions. Indeed, his belief that he was the intended victim of the witchcraft, a
suspicion most likely caused by his politically charged childhood, led to him interviewing many of the subjects
himself. For example, James’ presence at the trial of Agnes Sampson strengthened his conviction against
witches as she repeated the exact words exchanged between he and Anne on their first night of marriage and
confessed to raising the storms which had affected their voyages. This resulted in the king advising the legal
authorities on methods of interrogation, such as the use of torture, which highlights his significance in the
witch-hunts as previously torture could only be used in Scotland if officially sanctioned by the Privy Council;
now it seemed the torture and deaths of witches was being justified, leading to incidents such as that in 1595
where Alison Balfour, a suspected witch, was tortured for two days without a warrant from the king. James’
significance in the Scottish witch-hunts can also be demonstrated through his role in popularising belief in the
diabolic pact; this evolved the continental ideas on witchcraft which James had imported through his meetings
with Danish theologians, such as Niels Hemmingsen, and prompted a number of accusations involving covens
meeting with the Devil, rather than simply performing acts of maleficium. Thus, it can be argued that King
James VI was central to both the extent and nature of the Scottish witch-hunts as his superstition caused him to
have a profound influence on the legal procedures and popular belief surrounding witchcraft even in 1597, when
many of the trials were carried out at a local level rather than by central government.
On the other hand, it could be argued that legal factors, particularly the judicial system, held more significance
in the Scottish witch-hunts from 1590-97 as it meant that miscarriages of justice were more likely to take place.
For example, in Scotland, only a majority verdict in jury trials was necessary to find an accused witch guilty,
which explains the relatively large number of executions that arose from the witch trials; while James’ personal
stance on witchcraft initially seemed significant in influencing the verdict during the North Berwick trials, it has
been argued that from 1592, the king became more of a sceptic than someone who encouraged the accusations.
Indeed, it seemed he was content to pass on much of the responsibility for dealing with witchcraft when he sent
an order to the Church to that effect, suggesting that it was a combination of legal and religious factors which
were more significant in determining the outcome of the witch-hunts from 1590-97. For example, the Scottish
Witchcraft Act of 1563 was influenced by Calvinist clergymen keen to enforce godly morals; this set up
commissions of judges who were sent around the country to investigate cases, which implies that the majority of
witch-hunts were pursued at a local level without interference from central government, and thus highlights the
limited role of James in the witch-hunts after 1592. However, in reality, the Witchcraft Act was rarely enforced
before James’ voyage to Denmark, demonstrating his responsibility for the extent of the persecution and how his
role in the North Berwick trials continued to have a profound effect on the witch-hunts even if his personal
involvement had lessened by 1597. Although it is true that many trials were carried out by local officials, there
is still evidence of James’ interest in investigating witches in 1597, as he ordered the magistrates of Stirling to
send an unnamed witch to him for him to interrogate. Thus, it can be argued that while legal and political
conditions were key in influencing the nature of the Scottish witch-hunts from 1590-97, King James VI actually
helped to create these unstable conditions in the first place, particularly due to his complicated childhood and
fear of plots being mounted against him; his involvement holds great significance due to this.
Overall, in conclusion, it can be argued that King James VI held enormous significance in the Scottish
witch-hunts from 1590-97 due to his personal belief in and passion for witchcraft; if a less superstitious monarch
