King James I had a morbid fear of violent death. His mother, Mary Queen of Scots, was beheaded by Elizabeth I. In 1605, there was an assassination attempt using a Brobdingnagian cache of gunpowder.
A 'witch' burns outside of Chicago, Ill. (Photo by Robin Petré) By Robin Petré Today, June 23, marks the official Midsummer celebration in Denmark, called "Sankt Hans aften" ("St. John's Eve").