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COlyrias was descended of a good family in Gui∣en, and of a father whose vertue might have been a pa∣terne unto him in his actions, had he not been withdrawne by the over-commanding
power of the destinies. This young man (his father being dead) was committed to the tuition of his Vncle; who slacking the severity which at first he shewed, soone after permitted him to follow his licentious desires, as do most Tutors and Guardians of children in these dayes; they are forward to receive the benefit of their place, but backward to performe the duty. This is the bane of youth, when Parents are too indulgent to their children, and Tutors or Guardians to their charge, suffering them freely to exercise whatsoe∣ver is dictated unto them by the pravity of their owne dispositions.
Colyrias was of such a gad∣ding humor, that he resolved
(without his Vncles consent) to make a Voyage towards Bourdeaux; and for that pur∣pose pilfred from his Vncle a round sum of money, and therewith privily departed: He had not sojourned there long, but he was taken with a desire of seeing Paris, but before he arived there, hee took up his lodging in a Town, seated upon the Loire, at an Inne, the Host where∣of prooved a meere Cut∣throat: here Colyrias with two others, by him acci∣dentally met, having supped together, were conducted all to one Chamber where were three Beds; every one makes choise of his owne, and having lockt the Cham∣ber doore, they all be∣tooke them to their rest:
But the Host having a se∣cret doore which entred in∣to the same chamber, about midnight, when he thought that a deepe sleepe had sea∣zed upon their senses, soft∣ly entred, and comming into their chamber approa∣ched their beds; Colyrias being by chance awake, saw them passing along the midst of the chamber, and at length staying at the next bed, which made him jealous that they had some attempt against their lives: hee therefore began by snorting, to make shew that hee was in a deepe sleepe, although hee were indeed much perplexed with the apprehension of an ensu∣ing mischiefe.
The Host having visited
the bed of his compani∣ons, came and handled his flesh also; and having so done, hee heard them say, that his flesh was but tough, and that the other two would proove dain∣tie meat, they then went to the others beds, and (like bloudy miscreants) misera∣blie killed the companions of Colyrias; whereat hee was so amazed, that hee knew not what course to take, for hee expected the same entertainment, as had his poore companions; yet beyond his thought was the Host more mercifull to him, then unto the others, for having disposed of the bo∣dies of his companions, he came unto him, and ha∣ving taken away from him
his moneys, which amounted to twenty pounds and up∣wards, causing him to arise, he conducted him thorow a gallery, wherein he had made a trap, in the forme of a draw-bridge, which by the meanes of a barre of iron fa∣stened under, it would rise and fall with the least weight that came upon it; Colyrias being come upon it, immediatly fell down into an unfrequented street, where while he with teares lamen∣ted his hard misfortunes, two theeves perceiving him, demanded of him the cause of his complaints, whereup∣on he declared unto them all his former accidents, where∣unto they answered, that ill fortune indeed had given him just cause of sorrow; but
that patience ought to serve him as a buckler against so many miseries; and that they so much pitied him, that if he would he should partici∣pate of their better fortunes: upon this promise he fol∣lowed them, little thinking that he had fallen out of the frying pan into the fire; but being come into the next street, they there for a time stayed, expecting an oppor∣tunity to take some booty, they then going up another street, came unto a well, where one of them, desirous to quench his thirst, found that the buckets were want∣ing, which made him intreat Colyrias to descend into the well for water; but he fear∣ing that they would play some scurvy trick with him,
at first refused; yet at length, constrained by their earnest intreaties, he adventured it: he was no sooner down, but the watch appeared in sight of his companions, whereup∣on they forsaking the rope by which Colyrias held, fled; so that had it not been that Colyrias had taken footing upon a stone, which jutted forth of the side of the well, he had there perished: as soon as the watch came unto the well, one of the compa∣nie being desirous likewise to quench his thirst (it being in the heat of Summer) think∣ing that the bucket had been in the bottome of the water, began to draw at the rope; Colyrias (thinking that his companions had drawn) ac∣cording to their promise,
seazing upon the rope, was by little and little lifted up; but he finding the weight heavier then was usuall, called unto his companions for help; saying, That sure∣ly there was something more then water in the buc∣ket; at length, by their uni∣ted forces, they drew up Colyrias; when they saw him appear at the top of the Well, they being ter∣rified, ranne away as if the Devill had been at their heels, so suddenly loosing their hold of the rope, that if he had not cast his hand quickly upon the mouth of the Well, he could not have escaped the danger of tumbling in a∣gain.
It happened that about
four or five dayes before the arrivall of Colyrias, that the Bishop of the Diocesse being dead, was buried with a Ring and rich Crosier staff in the presence of these his compa∣nions, which made them ear∣nestly desire by some plot or other to steal them: and to that end desired the assistance of Colyrias, whereunto, though unwilling, he was constrained to give his con∣sent: they then came unto the Church door, which being opened by Picklocks, they entred, shewing him the Tombe, and threatening him with death if he refused to go in, or failed to bring unto them the Ring and Crosier: whereupon, they having with iron-crows, and other instruments, lifted up the
stone of the vault, he entred; and putting his hands upon the Coffin, pulled up the planck that covered him, and taking the Crosier and Ring away, he came unto his com∣panions, and told them, that as for the Crosier, he had brought it; but as for the Ring, it was not to be found in the Coffin; thinking by this means to keep the Ring for himself: but they, who had been at the Bishops Fu∣nerall, and knew assuredly that the Ring was inclosed in the Coffin, so threatened Colyrias, that he was con∣strained to go into the Vault the second time; where, ma∣king as if he searched far∣ther, and having told them, that certainly it was not there, they forthwith let fall
the stone, and buried him in the sepulchre with the Corps of the dead Bishop; Colyrias had already escaped two imminent dangers, but now thought assuredly, he should never escape the third, but that he should pe∣rish in the vault.
Whilest he was in this great perplexitie, there came two Priests, who being pos∣sessed with the sacrilegious desire of robbing the Bi∣shops sepulchre, lifted up the stone, and one of them being about to enter, Co∣lyrias caught hold of his legs, who imagining that the dead Bishop was revi∣ved, and had caught him by the legs, being filled with fear and amazement, he strived to withdraw his legs,
and so drew our Colyrias, who imagining his conceit, ranne after him to the place where he entred, and got forth, and having escaped out of the Church, he ha∣sted out of the town with the Ring, that was worth two hundred crowns, so that he returned home with some recompence for the many dangers and mise∣ries that he had already suf∣fered.