i 4 2 CURIOUS CREATURES. 



natural Wolves. For as it is proved, they set upon the 

 houses of men that are in the Woods, with wonderfull 

 fiercenesse, and labour to break down the doors, whereby 

 they may destroy both men and other creatures that 

 remain there. 



" They go into the Beer-Cellars, and there they drink 

 out some Tuns of Beer or Mede, and they heap al the 

 empty vessels one upon another in the midst of the 

 Cellar, and so leave them : wherein they differ from 

 natural and true Wolves. But the place, where, by 

 chance they stayd that night, the Inhabitants of those 

 Countries think to be prophetical : Because, if any ill 

 successe befall a Man in that place ; as, if his Cart over- 

 turn, and he be thrown down in the Snow, they are 

 fully perswaded that man must die that year, as they 

 have for many years proved it by experience. Between 

 Lituania, Samogetia, and Curonia, there is a certain wall 

 left, of a Castle that was thrown down ; to this, at a set 

 time, some thousands of them come together, that each 

 of them may try his nimblenesse in leaping. He that 

 cannot leap over this wall, as commonly the fat ones 

 cannot, are beaten with whips by their Captains. 



" And it is constantly affirmed that amongst that multi- 

 tude there are the great men, and chiefest Nobility of 

 the Land. The reason of this metamorphosis, that is 

 exceeding contrary to Nature, is given by one skilled in 

 this witchcraft, by drinking to one in a Cup of Ale, and 

 by mumbling certain words at the same time, so that 

 he who is to be admitted into that unlawful Society, do 

 accept it. Then, when he pleaseth, he may change his 

 humane form, into the form of a Wolf entirely, going 

 into some private Cellar, or secret Wood. Again, he 

 can, after some time put off the same shape he took 



