Topic 2: James I and Charles I: character, court and favourites

·         1566: Born in Edinburgh, son of Mary Queen of Scots

·         James was brought up Protestant, mostly by governors, such as George Buchanan, and gains a passion for education.

·         Scotland was ruled by a regency government until his take-over from Regent James Douglas in 1583, accompanied by the theory of Divine Right

·         In 1585, James forces the ‘Black Acts’ through, in order to centralise royal control over the Kirk

·         James signed the Treaty of Berwick with England in mutual defence against a Catholic threat from Europe

·         James married the Protestant Anne…