seems to have been
larger and more elaborate, apparently in some kind of design. From the
evidence five facts are clear: (1) that the mark was coloured, (2) that it
was permanent, (3) that it was caused by the pricking or tearing of the
skin, (4) that the operator passed his hand or fingers over the place, (5)
that the pain could be severe and might last a considerable time. Put
together in this way, the facts suggest tattooing.

Among the Aberdeen witches in 1597 Andro Man was accused that 'Christsunday
[the Devil] bit a mark in the third finger of thy right hand, whilk thou
has yet to show'; and Christen Mitchell also was accused that 'the Devil
gave thee a nip on the back of thy right hand, for a mark that thou was one
of his number'.[285] According to Boguet, writing in 1598, the witches of
Eastern France were usually marked on the left shoulder, and the mark was
in the shape of the foot or footprint of a hare, but he also gives some
exceptional cases:

'L'epaule gauche est l'endroit, ou plus ordinairement il marque les
Sorciers. La marque des Sorciers est tantost come vne piste ou pied de
lieure, & tantost d'autre facon. On en a veu vne, qui auoit vne figure
rapportant en grandeur a vn petit denier, du centre de laquelle
s'estendoient plusieurs filamens vers la circonference. La marque de
la Belcuenotte, qui a este brulee a Besancon, estoit au dessus de sa
nature, vn peu plus bas que le nombril. Celle, dont Guillauma Proby
d'Anchay se trouua marquee au col du coste droit, estoit de mesme de
la grandeur d'vn petit denier, tirant sur le brun. Iean de Vaux auoit
la siene au doz, & ressembloit a vn petit chien noir.'[286]

De Lancre in 1609 says that in the Basses-Pyrenees 'comme le Diable faict
sa marque, on sent vn peu de chaleur, qui penetre plus ou moins
profondement la chair, que plus ou moins il pince le lieu qu'il touche'. As
regards the position of the mark he says:

'Il les egratigne tous auec le bras gauche, & les ongles de la main
senestre. Et tout aussi tost prenant vne espingle d'or faux, il les
marque le plus souuent dans le blac de l'[oe]il gauche, & leur imprime
vne marque qui semble vn petit crapaud' [elsewhere he says 'vne patte
de crapaud']; 'par fois dans l'epaule & coste gauche, ou dans la
cuisse, leur rompant & dechirant la peau & la chair iusques a effusio
de sang; si bien que pendant trois mois ils ont de tres