Newes from Scotland

Newes from Scotland - declaring the damnable life and death of Dr. Fian, a notable sorcerer is a pamphlet printed in

Included in the pamphlet is an account of the alleged witches

During his examination, he confessed to be the register of the witches under the service of Satan. Afterwards, he renounced his compact with Satan and swore to live an honourable Christian life. He also testified that Satan came to him the same day to convince him to uphold his original pact. Fian stated that he renounced Satan to his face.[3]

It was the next day when he confessed what happened that he managed to steal a key to his cell from one of the guards and escaped his imprisonment. After he was recaptured, he was tortured to obtain his confession but denied all his previous confessions. Implements described as used during his interrogation included the boot, which crushed his feet and lower legs, with turcas, a type of pincer, and needles to forcibly extract his nails. Geillis Duncan's earlier testimony had been secured by the use of pilliwinks.^[3]

Historical significance

The pamphlet contains virtually the only contemporary illustrations of Scottish witchcraft^[2] and was the earliest Scottish or English printed document dedicated to only covering witchcraft in Scotland.^[4] It provided the first descriptions of the osculum infame, also known as the kiss of shame or the obscene kiss, to the English population.^[5]

Original copies are kept at

Citations

Bibliography

• Durrant, Jonathan (2005), "The osculum infame", in Harvey, Karen (ed.), The Kiss in History, Manchester University Press,
  ISBN 978-0-7190-6595-8
• Normand, Lawrence; Roberts, Gareth (2000), Witchcraft in Early Modern Scotland, Liverpool University Press,
  ISBN 978-0859893886

• Digitization of an 1816 facsimile reprint of the pamphlet from the British Library

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