A Thistle with Thorns
The podcast for all things Scottish history! Murdo Fraser and James Bundy are here to shine a light on Scotland’s rich and often forgotten history. Murdo Fraser has been Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland & Fife since 2001, and is the Party spokesman on Business, Economy, Tourism and Culture. Brought up on tales of the Covenanters and the novels of Walter Scott and Nigel Tranter, he has always had a keen interest in Scottish history, and now writes and gives talks on the 17th century. His account of the 1st Marquis of Montrose and the Marquis of Argyll, The Rivals, was published by Birlinn in 2015. James Bundy is a Councillor for Falkirk North with a passion for Scottish history, politics, and public policy. He holds an MA in Economics and International Relations from the University of St Andrews, where his dissertation explored Just War Theory within the British Constitution, examining the 17th-century relationship between Church and state and its relevance today. James has been published on the Stuart Kings and has experience working in both Holyrood and Westminster, giving him a deep understanding of governance. He also leads the BE FAST campaign, working to improve stroke awareness across Scotland. With a keen interest in how Scotland’s past shapes its present, James is dedicated to preserving and promoting the nation’s rich history.
Listen on:
Episodes
7 days ago
7 days ago
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 Knox ended up as a French galley slave, and how geopolitics shaped the Reformation in Scotland.
Monday Feb 02, 2026
Monday Feb 02, 2026
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 David Beaton, Cardinal Archbishop of St Andrews, persecutor-in-chief, and father of eight.
Monday Jan 26, 2026
Monday Jan 26, 2026
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 misunderstandings of Burns, his historical context, and his work.
In this episode, Murdo and James explore a selection of Burns’s poems and songs to examine what his political ideas actually were. In particular, they discuss Burns’s use of Jacobite material, arguing that it reflects a romantic and cultural fascination with a lost cause rather than genuine political support for Jacobitism.
By placing Burns in his own time, rather than ours, the episode challenges modern attempts to turn him into a spokesman for contemporary political causes.
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Monday Jan 19, 2026
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? Join Murdo & James as they discuss the Army’s legal innovations and King Charles’ legal defence.
Was it legal or morally right to execute the King? Join us to find out!
Monday Jan 12, 2026
Monday Jan 12, 2026
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 kingdom watches closely. What does Scotland make of its King being taken by an English army? In this first episode of a two-part special, we explore how the kidnapping of Charles I set Britain on the road to trial, execution, and profound constitutional change.
Monday Jan 05, 2026
Monday Jan 05, 2026
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 incendiary that Charles II’s regime ordered it to be burned at the Restoration and its author indicted for treason.
In this episode we look at the life of the writer, Samuel Rutherford, Professor of Divinity and Rector of St Andrew’s University, discuss his arguments, and debate why Lex Rex was such an important document in the formation of modern constitutional theory.
Monday Dec 29, 2025
Monday Dec 29, 2025
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 II, and William and Mary.
The semi-finals and final weren’t just about personalities. They exposed old Scottish arguments that never quite go away. Do we prefer continuity or rupture, compromise or control, and whether stability is bought or imposed.
The final result surprised some, delighted others, and irritated more than a few. Which is probably a sign we were asking the right question.
Monday Dec 22, 2025
Monday Dec 22, 2025
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 vs. Queen Anne; James VII vs. William & Mary; and Charles II vs. Oliver Cromwell!
Hope you enjoy!
Monday Dec 15, 2025
Monday Dec 15, 2025
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 executions of the innocent. Join us as we discuss Titus Oates, the man behind the lurid claims, and how the whole episode was viewed in Scotland.
Monday Dec 08, 2025
Monday Dec 08, 2025
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 behind the crown? Why did so many turn against him? And which famous city today still carries his name?
Murdo and James pull apart the myths, the madness, and the missteps, and ask the big question: was James VII always destined to fall? Tune in for a fast, fiery, and fascinating ride through one of Scotland’s most explosive reigns.