Of possible occult interest, the knife that John Ramsey (one of James’ catamites) plunged into the neck of the younger Ruthven brother on James’ order, was the very weapon that was used 10 years later to assassinate Henry IV of France (query Ravillac knife for pic). What are the odds? Especially if you consider that the Ruthven family ruled Scotland for a year.
Could this coincidence have a connection to James’ book on witchcraft (Daemonology)? Or his keen interest in the subject? Btw James attended the North Berwick Witch Trials, where (if I recall correctly) about 200 suspected witches confessed and were executed.
Confessions were apparently promptly obtained once the “boot” was brought over from Stirling. Yes cruel, but this device was replaced by the gentler “thumbkins”, a Russian invention I believe, that could be used on small subjects, such as children.
Facts
Of possible occult interest, the knife that John Ramsey (one of James’ catamites) plunged into the neck of the younger Ruthven brother on James’ order, was the very weapon that was used 10 years later to assassinate Henry IV of France (query Ravillac knife for pic). What are the odds? Especially if you consider that the Ruthven family ruled Scotland for a year.
Could this coincidence have a connection to James’ book on witchcraft (Daemonology)? Or his keen interest in the subject? Btw James attended the North Berwick Witch Trials, where (if I recall correctly) about 200 suspected witches confessed and were executed.
Confessions were apparently promptly obtained once the “boot” was brought over from Stirling. Yes cruel, but this device was replaced by the gentler “thumbkins”, a Russian invention I believe, that could be used on small subjects, such as children.