ABSTRACT
English writers of the time were familiar with the work of Continental theologians, who were the first to articulate the theory of the devil's mark and the practical guidelines for the search It includes search under the eyelids, under the armpits, on the breasts, on the roof of the mouth, in the rectum and on the genitals. The search for such marks relied on a mixture of popular and learned theological ideas and was typical of English witchcraft cases. The evidential significance of the devil's mark in early modern England emerged out of two epistemologically inconsistent sources. In high, or learned, theory, which was influenced by Continental theology, the devil often sealed a covenant with the witch by branding her body. Various social actors were involved in the search for the devil's marks. The task was sometimes undertaken by self-appointed suspicious neighbours with no official authority.
