[Satan’s Invisible World Contents]
THis City was annoyed with Rats and Mice. It happened that a Pied-Coated-Pyper, came thither, who covenanted with the Chief Burgers for such a Reward, if he could free them from the said Vermine, nor would he demand it, till a twelve Moneth and a day after. The Agreement being made, he began to play on his Pipes, and all the Rats and Mice followed him to a great Lough hard by, where they all perished; so the town was infected no more. At the end of the year the Piper, returned for his reward. The Burgers put him off, with slightings and neglect, offering him some small-matter, which he refused. And staying some dayes in Town, on a Sunday morning at high Mass, when most People were at Church, he fell to play on his Pipes, and the Children up, and down, followed him out of the Town, to a great hill not far off, which rent in two, and opened, and let him and the Children in, and so closed up again. This happened about 250. years since.1 And in that Town they date their Bills and Bonds, and other Instruments in Law, to this day from the year of their going out of their Children. Besides, there is a great pillar of stone erected, at the foot of the said hill, where this Story is ingraven.
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1 This book was first published in 1685, meaning this tale is said to have taken place around 1435.
