After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, James I of Scotland took over; so the last 13 years of Shakespeare’s life James was the ruling monarch. He was a strange, little man who mainly wanted to hunt everyday, with his large court; often trampling the crops of his serfs, while being sustained by the local nobility. Unlike Elizabeth, he spent more than he had, and became an indulgent burden to his people. King James I wrote a book on witchcraft titled "Daemonologie." This book, published in 1597, explores the nature of witchcraft, sorcery, and demons. It also outlines King James's belief in these practices and proposes methods for dealing with witches, primarily advocating for their execution. One imagines James I thrilled with Macbeth!