In England, folklore surrounding werewolves is notably scarce. This scarcity likely stems from the fact that werewolves were reportedly driven out of the country during the Anglo-Saxon period, and discussions about them gradually ceased. Nevertheless, scholars occasionally uncover traces of werewolf legends in folk ballads, such as one that says:

"Pray, tell me, are there werewolves in the woods?

Pray, tell me, are there mermaids in the sea?

What are they truly—man or beast? Fish or human?"

In English folklore, rabbits and cats are often used as substitutes for werewolves. Many tales describe witches assuming the forms of these animals to attend infernal gatherings.

In Devonshire, witches are said to transform into black dogs. One tale recounts two black dogs spotted drinking cider in a tavern, later shot by hunters. Upon being struck, the dogs transformed into elderly women. In Heathfield, near Tavistock, a hunter chasing a white hare encountered a kindly man returning from market. The man saved the hare, only to watch it transform into a beautiful woman.

In Scotland, cannibalistic tales abound, yet unlike continental Europe, these narratives rarely depict the perpetrators as beasts. For instance, a notorious robber and his daughter were said to have consumed his grandson. A detailed account by Lindsay describes:

"In 1460, a ruthless brigand residing in Angus lured children to his home to feast on their flesh, claiming that younger meat was the most tender. When this was discovered, he was burned alive. His daughter, only a year old at the time, was taken to Dundee. Upon reaching adulthood, she too was convicted of cannibalism and executed. On her way to the gallows, she reportedly turned to the jeering crowd of women and said, 'Why curse me? Do you not know that to have tasted human flesh is to taste the sweetest of meats? If you had tried it, you would die content.' Even as the noose tightened, she displayed neither remorse nor regret."

Wyntoun recorded a similar case in his chronicle, set around 1340 during Edward III's reign over much of Scotland:

"A strange tale unfolds,

One to pique all interest;

It is said, not far from here,

A curious man lived alone.

In his solitude, none knew

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

What he did or how he lived.

Days passed; hunger or thirst

Seemed not to trouble him.

All forgot him until one day,

Bones were found behind his home,

Revealing him to be a cannibal.

The news spread far and wide,

And he was banished,

Never to be seen again."

Comparing these stories with those from France and Germany, it becomes apparent that in British lore, man-eaters retain human form. Were this in France or Germany, they might be portrayed as savage beasts, accused of lycanthropy and subjected to brutal trials.

Jerome, chronicling Scottish history, described the Attacotti tribe around 880 AD:

"They fed exclusively on human flesh,

Though their forests teemed with livestock.

Men’s backs and women’s breasts were their delicacies."

Historian Gibbon, referencing Jerome, remarked, "Glasgow, a beacon of commerce and culture, stood unsettlingly close to such barbarity. Scotland’s history juxtaposes civilization and savagery."

While England lacks strong werewolf traditions, in France, particularly in its southern regions, the tales are more vivid. Lycanthropes there were said to transform during full moons. By night, they would leap from windows into pools, emerging with thick fur. They prowled the countryside, attacking animals and humans, only to return at dawn, shed their fur in the pools, and quietly slip back into bed.

In Bérigorde, werewolves followed a similar pattern but added the ritual of donning wolf skins provided by their masters. These individuals were identifiable even in human form by their broad hands, short nails, and tufts of hair between their fingers.

In Normandy, those destined to be werewolves wore wolf pelts at night, guided by devils. Breaking the curse required stabbing one’s forehead thrice until blood flowed freely; milder cases could be cured with needle pricks. Some vagabonds claimed lycanthropy resulted from curses in the afterlife, where souls clawed their way from graves to roam as wolves.

In Norway, legends tell of individuals transforming into wolves or bears at will. One story recounts a farmer named Lasse, cursed into wolf form for failing to carry a cross or pray before felling trees. His wife, grieving his disappearance, encountered a ragged beggar one Christmas Eve who foretold her husband’s return. That night, a wolf appeared at her door. Calmly, she said, "If you are my Lasse, you may have this meat." The wolf shed its skin, revealing her husband.

In Sweden, animosity toward Finns and Russians persisted due to beliefs that they could transform people into beasts. During a Russo-Swedish war, Russian forces reportedly deployed wolves—Swedish prisoners transformed into beasts—to ravage their homeland.

Denmark offers another tale: A man, long a werewolf, sensed a transformation during a carriage ride with his wife. Handing her the reins, he warned, "If attacked, strike with your apron." As a wolf lunged at her, she did so, tearing the fabric. The wolf fled, and moments later, her husband returned, holding the torn piece of cloth.