Wild Goose Chase (The), a comedy by Beaumont and Fletcher (1652). The “wild goose” is Mirabel, who is “chased” and caught by Oriana, whom he once despised.
Wild Horses (Death by). The hands and feet of the victim were fastened to two or four wild horses, and the horses, being urged forward, ran in different directions, tearing the victim limb from limb.
Mettius Suffetius was fastened to two chariots, which were driven in opposite directions. This was for deserting the Roman standard (B.C. 669).--Livy, Annals, i. 28.
Salcēde, a Spaniard, employed by Henri III. to assassinate Henri de Guise, failed in his attempt, and was torn limb from limb by four wild horses.
Nicholas de Salvado was torn to pieces by wild horses for attempting the life of William, prince of Orange.
Balthazar de Gerrard was similarly punished for assassinating the same prince (1584).
John Chastel was torn to pieces by wild horses for attempting the life of Henri IV. of France (1594).
François Ravaillac suffered a similar death for assassinating the same prince (1610).
Wild Huntsman (The), a spectral hunter with dogs, who frequents the Black Forest to chase wild animals.--Sir W. Scott, Wild Huntsman (from Bürger’s ballad).
⁂ The legend is that this huntsman was a Jew, who would not suffer Jesus to drink from a horse-trough, but pointed to some water collected in a hoof-print, and bade Him go there and drink.--Kuhn von Schwarz, Nordd. Sagen, 499.