Bivalve Seashells of Western North America (Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Monographs) Book

On the day that the vote on the Scotland issue is being taken, what an appropriate time to read a book about a Scottish King who became King of England but who was hated by the English and who felt himself to be in a foreign country!

James, who as James VI had ruled Scotland for 36 years, having been crowned when he was only one was not a well-liked King when he moved south of the border to become the first of the Stuart dynasty. The author informs us, 'He had journeyed from a very poor. troubled country through rich peaceful England, where farms flourished on every side, to the prosperous City of London. He had never imagined such wealth; it was for James a rich inheritance indeed.' In addition he fuelled the religious debate regarding Catholics and Protestants.

He was disliked so much that plotters, a group of Catholic gentlemen, set about finding a way in which to get rid of him. The leader was Robert Catesby and one of his cohorts was a certain Guido, known as Guy, Fawkes. They rented a cellar underneath the House of Lords and they piled barrels of gunpowder in it. Fawkes was the man who would set it all off when the House was opened once again.

It was scheduled for 7 February, then put back to 3 October and finally moved to 5 November; imagine we could have been having bonfire night on either of those earlier dates; how unreal would that seem now we are accustomed to 5 November! But by the time the due date arrived, word of the plot had been leaked and thus Fawkes was caught in the act, or more accurately, just before the act. The plot had failed.

The other conspirators were tracked down once Fawkes was forced to talk and, after a fierce fight, in which Catesby was killed, the others were captured and subsequently executed. The exception was Francis Tresham who was sent to the Tower where he later died, many said of poisoning.

So the unpopular James continued to work for the union of the two countries and ruled until his death in 1626. How much longer the union will last we know not as we await the result of the referendum shortly. James VI of Scotland James I of England will no doubt be wondering and possibly, depending on the result, turning in his grave!

As usual these Ladybird books are jolly good reads and most informative for there is plenty of other background to the events of the early 17th century within the covers of this entertaining book.