He regards himself as the Devil’s greatest enemy on earth and God’s instrument in the war against witches. James the Sixth of Scotland is an eager witch hunter. Like his brother-in-law, King Christian the Fourth of Denmark, he feels called upon by God to fight the Devil and his sorcerous ways. Both kings feel this calling even stronger when James’ wedding to Princess Anne is delayed by a violent storm. The bridal tour to Scotland has to be called off and a makeshift wedding held in Norway. Both regents agree that the Devil must be responsible, and this leads to several witch trials in Scotland as well as Denmark.
Over the years, James alters his view on the many witch trials however. When he is crowned King of England too, in 1603, James regards the accusations of witchcraft with a more sceptical eye and starts to take pride in exposing people who claim to be possessed by the Devil.