In 1284, the twon of Hamelin in Saxony (so legend says) was infested by rats. The town’s governors were at their wits’ end, until stranger came and offered his services, promising to clear the infestation as he done in other towns of the world. The townsfolk eagerly agreed, and promised him a thousand gilders if he succeeded.

The stranger produced a pipe and, wearing his curiously multicoloured gown, merrily piped the rats away to drown in the river. However, though he had fulfilled his side of the bargain the townsfolk withheld his promised reward, so the pied piper piped their children away into a riverside cave, never to be seen again.

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