Newes from Scotland
Illustration of Doctor Fian, from Newes from Scotland
Newes from Scotland - declaring the damnable life and death of Dr. John Fian is a pamphlet written by King James VI of Scotland that was printed in London in 1591, and reprinted as part of Daemonologie in 1597.[1] It describes the infamous North Berwick witch trials in Scotland. Dr John Fian, the supposed head of the coven, was tortured to obtain his confession most notably by the Boot, the Pilliwinks and by having his nails forcibly extracted. Also included in the pamphlet is an account of the alleged witches Agnes Sampson, known as the Wise wife of Keith, and the principal accuser Gillis Duncan.
Original copies are kept at Glasgow University, and in the Bodleian Library at Oxford.[2]