James I

• James I - A fan of Shakespeare's theatre, James I was King of England from 1603-1625. He famously wrote a book on witchcraft, named Daemonologie.
• The play was written between 1605 and 1606, following the death of Elizabeth I and the ascension of King James of Scotland to the English throne.
• The play was written with James I in mind it has been said that the king ‘was pleas’d with his own Hand to write an amicable letter to Mr Shakespeare’:
• The play echoes James’ fascination with the supernatural;
• It compliments him by making his ancestor, Banquo, a hero in the play;
• The play is also quite topical – relating to the Gunpowder Plot and the subsequent trial of the conspirators.