SOURCES: The Romance of William and the Werewolf by Sir Humphrey de Bohun (1350)
 

DESCRIPTION: “Embrons, King of Apulia, by his wife Felice, daughter of the Emperor of Greece, had a fair son named William. The brother of Embrons, wishing to be heir to the throne, bribed two ladies, Gloriande and Acelone, to murder the child. But at this very time, as the child was at play (at Palermo), a wild wolf caught him up, ran off with him, swam the Straits of Messina, and carried him away to a forest near Rome, not injuring, but taking great care of him. But while the wolf went to get some food for him, the child was found by a cowherd, who took him home and adopted him. (Now you must know that the wolf was not a true wolf, but a werwolf or man-wolf / he had once been Alphouns, eldest son of the King of Spain, and heir to the crown of Spain. His step- mother Braunde, wishing her son Braundinis to be the heir, enchanted him so that he became a werwolf.)” (The Romance of William and the Werewolf by Sir Humphrey de Bohun (1350)

NOTES: Two Roman lovers, Guillaume and Melior, flee the city since the girl Melior is supposed to marry a foreign prince. With the help of a werewolf Guillaume eventually wins back his rightful throne and marries Melior. The werewolf is actually Guillaume's cousin Alfonso who has been transformed by his wicked stepmother. For his help he is returned to human form.

HISTORY: This English version is based on William of Palerne's French poem (1200 AD) and was not actually translated by de Bohun. He paid a scribe named "William" to do the actual work. Palerne's tale helped to inspire Marie de France and others.