Anonymous: The ray-stabbers of Weert (1660 - 1700)

 

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

An engraving made by an unknown Dutch artist. This print shows a local legend from the town of Weert in the province of Limburg in The Netherlands. According to the tale, a carter lost a ray during his trip in the town of Laar (close to Weert). The citizens of Weert had never seen a ray and though the creature was the devil himself. Almost the entire town was alerted: the local pastor and the civic guard were summoned, a canon was brought to the place, a gallows was erected and the church bells were ringing. The son of an innkeeper was brave enough to stab the beast after which he was rewarded with the hand of the daughter of the local mayor. After some time the carter saw that he had lost the ray and arrived on the scene to get his fish back. The carter made fun of the citizens of Weert but the mayor wasn't convinced and had the carter hanged together with the ray. Since then, during carnival, the citizens of Weert are known as rogstaekers (ray-stabbers). Engraving from 1660-1700.