Those of you who are scholars of the Wars of the Roses will recognize the family name - Beaufort, as Margaret Beaufort, was a pivotal player on the Lancastrian side and the mother of the first Tudor King, Henry VII. Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland, was Margaret's aunt, the daughter of John Beaufort, 1^st^ Earl of Somerset. Margaret was the only daughter of John's second son, John, the 3^rd^ Earl of Somerset. The Beaufort's were descended from John of Gaunt, King Edward III's 3^rd^ son, and thus Joan is a direct descendant of Edward III.

James I of Scotland was my 15th great grandfather through the Taylors and Gordons. In this article I will describe briefly the life of James I. As with most royalty, one could write a book on their life, but I will stick to the major events.