The Story of a Werewolf, 1888

A noble gentleman of Brittany, In high favor with the king, married a lovely lady. There would have been no limit to their happiness but that three days out of every week the gentleman mysteriously disappeared. When pressed by his wife for an explanation he confessed that he was a Bisclaveret or werewolf, and for three days in the week was condemned to assume a wolf’s shape. The lady was sore troubled and determined to rid herself of so objectionable a husband. Learning that if the lord’s clothes were stolen after Hie metamorphosis was effected he could not resume his human shape, she and a false cavalier who loved her watched him and got possession of the castoff garments. As from that day the husband was no more seen she married the cavalier.

One day the king was out hunting when a wolf that had been sore pressed by the hounds made its way to him and looked at him with so pitiful and human an expression that the king’s heart was touched. He spared it and brought it home to his court. The animal proved gentle and tractable and became a great favorite. But one day when the false cavalier came to court it jumped upon him with a wild cry and bit him severely. And when some days later tho wife claimed an audience with the king the wolf flew at her, too, and bit off her nose. Swords were drawn and tho wolf would have been killed, but that a wise man counseled the prince to find out first what could be the reason of the wolfs grudge to the lady and Her husband. And, being threatened with imprisonment, the lady, terrified, confessed all she knew, and when the clothes of her former husband were given to the wolf he was transformed into human shape and the king rejoiced to recognize his old favorite. The guilty pair were ignominiously banished. They lived several years and had many children, all the girls being born without noses. – American Notes and Queries.

 

From the Arizona Weekly Enterprise, July 14, 1888