A Thistle with Thorns

Mary, Queen of Scots - Life as a Prisoner

For 19 long years, Mary was held in captivity. But her prison wasn't always what you'd expect… Where did she stay? Who watched over her? And how did her health, and her hopes, hold up under pressure? In this episode, Murdo and James uncover the human side of history: the homes, the illnesses, and the relationships that shaped Mary’s life in captivity.

Mary, Queen of Scots - England's Response to Mary's Arrival

Join Murdo & James as they continue their series on Mary, Queen of Scots Captivity in England. In the second episode of this series, Murdo and James will explore how Queen Elizabeth I and the English Court responds to the news that Mary has arrived in England. Do they welcome or fear the arrival? Tune in to find out!

Mary, Queen of Scots - Escaping to England

Mary, Queen of Scots fled Scotland defeated and broken, seeking safety, and perhaps support, in England. But instead of refuge, she found imprisonment. 
In this first episode of our new mini-series,Murdo and James explore Mary’s fateful decision to cross the border. Was it a bold diplomatic move or a desperate gamble? Could she have taken another path? And was her eventual execution inevitable in a world of political intrigue, religious tension, and rivalry?
Drawing on Rosemary Goring’s Exile: The Captive Years of Mary, Queen of Scots, we trace Mary’s journey from battlefield defeat to captivity behind English doors, and ask how one queen’s downfall shaped the future of Britain.
Join us as we begin to unravel one of the most tragic and tangled stories in Scottish history!

Scotland's Last Coronation: Charles II at Scone

After Charles I was executed, Scotland faced a critical choice: submit to English control or crown a new king. They chose the latter.
 
But what did Charles II promise the Scots in return for the crown? Why was this coronation, held at Scone and featuring the Honours of Scotland, so significant? And how did this ceremony shape the future of the British Isles?
 
Discover the drama, diplomacy, and symbolism of Scotland’s last coronation in our latest episode.
 
Listen now - and if you enjoy it, please leave a review or comment. It helps others find the show, and we genuinely love hearing what you think.

The Jacobite Rising of 1719

The 1719 Rising is the ‘forgotten’ Jacobite rebellion, when a small Spanish invasion force landed in Loch Alsh in the West Highlands.  What happened when they and the Scottish exiles with them tried to raise the clans for King James VIII against King George? Find out from James and Murdo in our latest episode.

The First Jacobite Uprising and the Making of a Myth

In the dramatic finale of our First Jacobite Uprising mini-series, we go beyond the battlefield to ask: who really bears the blame for the Massacre of Glencoe? Did the first uprising accomplish anything, or did it only lay the groundwork for future disaster? Was this the moment the Highlands became a problem to be ‘managed’? And why, despite its violence and political shockwaves, is the 1689 rising overshadowed by 1715 and 1745 uprisings?
This is not just a story of rebellion. It’s a story of betrayal, of memory, and of a Scotland trying to decide what, and who, it is. From snow-stained glens to secret council chambers, we uncover the hidden legacy of the first Jacobite rising. The blood may be centuries old, but the echoes are still with us.

The Glencoe Massacre: Betrayal in the Highlands

In this episode of A Thistle with Thorns, we turn to one of the most chilling and controversial moments in Scottish history: the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe. Soldiers who had shared bread and shelter with the MacDonalds rose before dawn… and killed their hosts in cold blood.
But who gave the order — and why? Was this Highland tragedy the fault of King William, acting on cold political logic? Did John Dalrymple, the Master of Stair, seize an opportunity to punish a rebellious clan? And what about King James in exile — or General John Hill, who may have tried to stop it?
We explore why the Glencoe Massacre still stirs such strong feelings in Scotland today, and ask: was this a case of military cruelty, political ruthlessness — or a deeper warning about what happens when trust is weaponised?

Chaos in the Glen: The Highland Campaign Begins

In this week’s episode of A Thistle with Thorns, co-hosts Murdo Fraser and James Bundy continue their gripping mini-series on the 1st Jacobite Uprising by plunging into the murky aftermath of the Battle of Dunkeld.
As the Williamite forces seek to assert control over the Highlands, internal divisions cripple decision-making. Should they rule by sword or by negotiation? Meanwhile, the Jacobite cause flounders in a vacuum of leadership—awaiting guidance from a silent King James in exile.
This is not just a military campaign—it’s a political chess match filled with missteps, mistrust, and missed messages. The Highland Campaign sets the stage for one of the most infamous events in Scottish history: the massacre of Glencoe.

Prince Rupert of the Rhine ft. Historian Mark Turnbull

James & Murdo are delighted to be joined again by historian, author & host of Cavalier Cast podcast Mark Turnbull, who will be discussing his new book on Prince Rupert of the Rhine, King Charles’ dashing commander in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

Charles 1st ft. Historian Mark Turnbull

This week James and Murdo host a special guest - Mark Turnbull, author, historian and host of the Cavalier Cast podcast which looks at all aspects of the civil wars. In the first of two episodes featuring Mark, this one looks at Charles 1st and his relationship with Scotland, drawing on Mark’s research for his recent book ‘Charles 1st’s Private Life’.