Northern mythology

NETHERLANDISH TRADITIONS. 193
drink a drop of the coffee or milk^ but left it untouched
until Heer Percy gave them some. Thus they acted, and
were so faithful because he was so kind to them. On the
other hand, however, the neighbours had to suffer a thousand
annoyances from them. They drank the milk of
their cows, spoiled their butter, and played pranks innumerable;
for all which the neighbours were highly incensed
against Heer Percy; but they could do him no
harm, for
the Kaboutermannekens protected and watched
over him that no injury might befall him.
KLUDDE.
Kludde or Kleure is the name of an evil spirit which
plays its pranks in a great part of Brabant and Flanders.
With respect to its form it is a perfect Proteus ; for which
reason the peasants are so fearful of him, that they will
not for any consideration venture into a forest, a field, or
a road, which, according to common report, is haunted by
Kludde.
This spirit often transforms himself into a tree, which
at first appears quite small and delicate, but soon raises
itself to an immeasurable height, and is lost in the clouds,
while everything around it on earth is thrown into confusion.
Another time he will clothe himself with the skin
of a great black dog, and so run on his hind legs, at the
same time rattling a chain that is round his neck, and
will spring suddenly on the neck of the first person he
meets ; and when he has thrown him on the ground, entirely
vanish. But Kludde oftenest appears as an old,
half-starved horse, and as such is a bugbear to all grooms
and horse-boys, who relate that when they leave their
horses in the field at night, it frequently happens that,
instead of their well-known horse or mare, they set
themselves
on Kludde, who instantly runs off with them at full
speed, until he comes to some water, into which he pitches
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