The Black Shuck

On the coast of Anglia in England roams a huge black beast, similar to that of a large dog, named the Black Shuck or Old Shuck. This carnivorous "hellhound" is said to have enormous glowing red eyes and long shaggy black hair. The legend of Black Shuck dates back to the Vikings where where he was seen roaming the Anglian countryside. An appearance by Black Shuck proves ill to the beholder, though just seeing him does not mean death.

The most famous siting of Black Shuck was on August 4, 1577 at the church of Bungay in Scuffolk. The dog burst through the back door of the church killing a man and his son. Upon leaving, Black Shuck left burn marks from his red eyes on the back door, which can still be seen today. Reverend Abraham Fleming (1577) gives his account of that day:

"This black dog, or the divel in such a linenesse (God hee knoweth al who worketh all,) runing all along down the body of the church with great swiftnesse, and incredible haste, among the people, in a visible fourm and shape, passed between two persons, as they were kneeling uppon their knees, and occupied in prayer as it seemed, wrung the necks of them bothe at one instant clene backward, in somuch that even at a mome[n]t where they kneeled, they stra[n]gely dyed."


http://www.norfolkcoast.co.uk/myths/ml_blackshuck.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Shuck