The date is October 1511. King Henry VIII is on the throne in England.

King James’ new ship the Great Michael is being launched in Newhaven and he’s talking with anyone who’ll listen about his plans for the Navy.

It's true that the Great Michael was the largest warship in Europe and twice the size of the Mary Rose. She really did have 27 bronze cannon on board and walls that were ten feet thick. James did manage to get through a lot of Scottish wood and had to import it from Norway and France. His shipwright really was Martin Le Nault who was indeed french.

England really did decree that all scots without official residency were to be banished. It's true that the English tended to put their generals at the back when fighting whereas the Scots put them up front. It was indeed very difficult to defend Scotland by sea because of the long coast line. But it was also true that roads were terrible!

James was obsessed with boats and naval warfare and was the largest amount in the royal accounts. His Uncle was indeed from Denmark thanks to his Mother who was Danish. And James did refuse to help him because he worried his boats would be destroyed. The story about the Orkney and Shetland islands is true.

James did wear an iron belt as penance for siding with his mother against his Father. James was a very positive influence in Scotland: he did create a law that stopped tenants being evicted for example. He did also ban football and golf, but obviously that didn't work out! Robert Blackadder really was the Archbishop of Glasgow. All the palaces mentioned were revamped and improved and he really did ride around in disguise.

He did consider himself to have surgical knowledge and the story about the woman with cataracts is true. He did ensure that all those with syphillis could go to an island to get better (early quarantine!) and his court physician John Damian really did try and fly and broke his thigh. Idiot.

He did allow Edinburgh to do medical dissections before London and the university at Aberdeen was the first medical school open to all. He also issued a warrant to allow printing. He did create two new shipbuilding areas in the East. He did have several mistresses and illegitimate children.

If you want to find out more about King James IV, check out the sources and places below:

The King with the Iron Belt: The Life of King James IV of Scotland - Jackie Cosh

The Afterlife of King James IV: Otherworld Legends of the Scottish King - Keith John Coleman

Dumbarton Castle