James is gay

Before James was a year old, his father had been murdered, possibly by Mary who was then forced to abdicate for (among other things) her potential role in said murder. At just thirteen months old, he was proclaimed King of Scotland and entrusted to a regent, one of four before he became King in his own right aged thirteen. For his part, Esme commanded that his heart be delivered to James but not immediately because he knew how badly the news would be taken.

The article was based on anonymous sources and unsubstantiated rumors, and it was criticized as a smear campaign and fake news. But unbeknownst to James, he was not the sole occupier of Carr’s affections. His most common sign off in his letters was “Your Majestie’s most humble slave and dog,” which has far more sexual connotations than the usual sign off of ‘servant’.

In what was not the most sensible decision of his life, Carr hired his lover. Carr saw it for what it was and immediately moved to block any attempt to put Villiers at court but the rival faction could afford to be patient. Incidentally, in the aftermath of Esme’s death, James sent for a casket that he knew Esme kept all their letters in. William Laud, who would go on to become Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote in his diary several instances where he fantasized or dreamed about Villiers. 

That night, in my sleep, it seemed to me that the Duke of Buckingham came into bed to me, where he behaved himself with great kindness towards me.

James’ relationship with his wife deteriorated and she was known to openly hate and denounce Carr. However, the man wrote one poem referencing his love for ‘Lady Glammis’ and an entire love affair complete with sex has been assumed, and a mistress identified, from nothing more than these few words.

Had Carr been cleared of any involvement in the murder he would still have been ruined by this evidence against him. His appointment as Gentleman of the Bedchamber was followed by that of Master of Horse, then Baron Whaddon, Viscount Villiers, Knight of the Garter, Earl of Buckingham, Marquess of Buckingham, and finally, Duke of Buckingham in 1623.

This my nakedness made me to be weak and my enemies strong. “Dad.” “Gossip.” But two instances of particular note, are firstly the many, many times Buckingham calls himself James’ ‘dog.’ 

The sexual connotations cannot be overlooked especially when he refers to himself as a dog specifically in bed with James. The flyer was widely condemned as homophobic and false, and James denounced it as a “desperate and divisive” tactic.

In 2018, when James was running for Attorney General, a conservative website called Big League Politics published an article that claimed that James was “openly lesbian” and that she had a “secret girlfriend”.

The Lords kept him under guard and ensured there was a standing force to fight off any attempt made by Esme to rescue him. 

During their separation, James and Esme managed to establish a secret line of communication and exchanged letters in which James held out continuing hope of rescue. They gathered support, including that of the reluctant queen, and bankrolled a whole new wardrobe for Villiers.

James may have had relationships with men but we would be remiss to overlook the fact that his wife had nine pregnancies by him. Something which was considered a positive in the boy.