Daemonologie: A King's Obsession with Witches

Daemonologie: A King's Obsession with Witches

Join us for an intriguing event exploring how a king's royal paranoia and fear stoked a national panic and led the people of early seventeenth century Scotland to believe the devil was stalking the country.

Marking the 400th anniversary of the death of our Royal founder King James VI & I, author Steven Veerapen will explore the history of witchcraft, witches and witch-hunters during his reign . The talk will draw on Daemonologie, the academic study James wrote in 1616 warning about the reality and danger of witchcraft.

The College’s original copy of Daemonologie will be on display as part of the event. Our portrait of the King, who granted us our Royal Charter 425 years ago in 1599, will also be on view in our College Hall. Find further reading about our portrait of James on our blog:

A Portrait of King James VI and I https://heritageblog.rcpsg.ac.uk/2025/03/26/a-portrait-of-king-james-vi-and-i/

The talk will take place in the College’s beautiful and atmospheric Lower Library.

Drinks will be served before the event.

https://heritage.rcpsg.ac.uk/events

Event Timings

Doors open: 19:00

Event begins: 19:30

Event ends: 21:00

About our speaker:

Steven Veerapen was born in Glasgow and raised in Paisley. Pursuing an interest in the sixteenth century, he was awarded a first-class Honours degree in English, focussing his dissertation on early modern representations of Henry VIII’s six wives. He then received a Masters in Renaissance studies and a Ph.D. investigating Elizabethan slander. His recent publications include "The Wisest Fool", a biography of James VI and I, and "Witches: A King's Obsession". He is also an author of historical fiction set in the Tudor and Stuart periods.

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