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Scotland’s Turmoil 1500-1707, with Johnnie Gallacher
Murdo and James are joined by a special guest, archaeologist, historian & writer Johnnie Gallacher, who will be discussing his recent book: Scotland’s Turmoil 1500-1707. It’s a take on the Early…
The Scottish Reformation Part 4: The Return of the Queen
Mary, Queen of Scots returns to Scotland to find her kingdom swept by Protestant fervour. Will she emulate her cousin Mary Tudor by turning back the clock to Catholicism? Or has she met her match in…
The Scottish Reformation Part 3: Opportunity Knox
The Lords of the Congregation invite John Knox to return to Scotland from Geneva, and within days of his arrival he has set the country ablaze with Protestant fervour. But he faces a dangerous…
The Scottish Reformation Part 2: The Small Man With The Big Sword.
Cardinal David Beaton has just burned the charismatic Protestant preacher George Wishart at the stake, but is about to face a bloody retribution. We discuss the seige of St Andrews Castle, why John…
The Scottish Reformation Part 1: The Reek of Patrick Hamilton
In the first part of our new four part series on the Reformation in Scotland, we look at the spread of Reformed ideas, James IV and the Lollards, the early Protestant martyrs, and the character of…
Robert Burns was not a Jacobite
Robert Burns is Scotland’s national poet. Because of this, there is a temptation for Scots of every political persuasion to claim him as one of their own. This often leads to serious…
Executing the King
Charles I has lost the confidence of the Army, who have decided to take matters into their own hands. But how can they bring the King to justice when the laws of the land are made in the King’s name?…
Kidnapping the King
The army has kidnapped the King. Claiming to act in the name of justice, soldiers seize Charles I - an act that horrifies both Parliamentarians and Royalists alike. But while England reels, another…
Lex Rex - Defying the King
Lex Rex, the Law & the Prince (or the Law is King), published in 1644, is one of the most influential books of he 17th century. Challenging the Stuart Kings’ belief in the Divine Right, it was so…
Crowns, Unions, and Unfinished Arguments
What does Scotland actually reward in a monarch? After days of public voting on X, our Scottish Monarch World Cup reached its reckoning. Four figures remained: James VI & I, Queen Anne, Charles…
Scottish Monarch World Cup Quarter Finals
Description - Join Murdo & James as they explore the results of our Christmas special Scottish Monarch World Cup. The ties of our quarterfinals are James VI vs. Mary, Queen of Scots; Charles I…
Titus Oates and the Popish Plot
England in 1678 was gripped by the Popish Plot, an entirely invented Catholic conspiracy to assassinate the King. The consequences for the Catholic community were horrendous, with persecutions and…
James VII - Scotland's last Catholic King
This week we dive into the drama-packed reign of Scotland’s last Catholic king, James VII. His rule only lasted three years, but the controversy outlived him by centuries. What was he really like…
The son of a King: the Duke of Monmouth and his links to Scotland
James, Duke of Monmouth and son of King Charles II had everything in life: charm, good looks, military success, and marriage to a wealthy Scottish heiress. The one thing he lacked was a legitimate…
St Andrew - Scotland’s patron saint
Who was St Andrew? How did a fisherman from Galilee become Scotland’s patron saint? What role did St Andrew play in Scotland’s religious, cultural and political identity, and is he still relevant to…
Instruments of torture and execution in Early Modern Scotland
In an episode not for the faint-hearted, James & Murdo look at how offenders - or alleged offenders - were (mis)treated in the 16th & 17th centuries. All you need to know about thumbscrews,…
Gunpowder Plot: Scotland’s Forgotten Response
Most people know the English response to the failed attempt to blow up Parliament on 5 November 1605: execution, propaganda, and bonfires. But what about Scotland’s reaction? In this episode, Murdo…
The Strange Case of Major Thomas & Jean Weir, the Warlock and Witch of the West Bow.
Edinburgh society in 1670 was shocked to its core by the revelations about the sins of brother & sister Thomas & Jean Weir, devout Presbyterians and stalwarts of the ‘Bowhead Saints’. Thomas,…
Our Halloween Special - Wandering Willie’s Tale
For Halloween we are joined by Neil Benny for a reading of what might be the greatest Scottish short story, and one with a seasonal flavour - the spooky story of the afterlife of the Laird of…
Witches: A King’s Obsession, with Steven Veerapen.
James & Murdo are joined by author Steven Veerapen, talking about his new book on King James VI & I and his interest in witchcraft: Witches - A King’s Obsession, published by Birlinn
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A Thistle with Thorns has published 48 episodes since March 2025, covering topics in History.
A Thistle with Thorns is currently sporadic with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 45m.
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