The first part of Parismus, the renovvmed Prince of Bohemia His most famous, delectable, and pleasant historie. Containing his noble battails fought against the Persians. His loue to Laurana, the Kings daughter of Thessalie: and of his strange aduentures in the desolate iland.

CHAP. I.

How Parismus after Pollippus Marriage, departed from Thessalie. And of a strange aduenture befell them in Bohemia.

AFter that Pollipus hadde wedded Vio∣letta, (as is declared in the first part of this Historie,) and euerie one in Dionisius Court enioyed his owne hearts content, Parismus againe desired to see his natiue country of Bohemia, from whence hee had beene long time absent: as also to comfort his aged Parentes, who languishded with extreame sorrowe, doubting that he was perished.

Parismus now determined to take his iourney by land, the rather for that Lauranacould not brooke the Seas, the passage being long and dangerous, that within fewe dayes Parismus (hauing with Laurana, Pollipus, Violetta, Tellamor, Bar∣zillus, and two hundreth Knights, being honourably accom∣panied onward of their iourney, by Dionisius and Oliuia, the King of Hungaria the Prince of Sparta, and his beloued Clariana, Lord Remus, and Lady Isabella, with thousands of the citizens of Thebes,) left the bounds of Thessalie, to the exceeding griefe of all, especially to the King and Queen, whose farewelles were exprest with exceeding sorrow•…•…s, and hearts replenished with sadnes, whose care for their welfare, and prai∣ers

for their prosperous successe, were vttered with a bundance of teares. They on the other side, with like heauie discontent∣ment, and sad sighes, left their delightful company, with whom they could euerlastingly haue remained, if waighti•…•… occasions had not withdrawn them. To recount their trauailes, and the countries they ouerpast, would be tedious, the rather for that they were neither crost by misfortune, nor any way indaunge∣red, but atchieued the tediousnesse thereof, with prosperous suc∣cesse, and within few daies, they arriued in the wished country of Bohemia, whither Parismus, welcommed Laurana, with these spéeches. Now most deare Lady, you set foote on the Bo∣hemian s•…•…ile, whither I haue long time wished to conduct you, desiring you to account both it and all therein, as yours to dis∣pose of, and though by your departure, you left your parents in heauinesse, your friends in care, and your subiects discontented: yet heere shall you •…•…inde parents, whome you shall raise from heauinesse, friends whom you shall comfort, and subiects whose pensiue hearts will be reuiued with your presence. Then I be∣séech you, let no disquiet thought trouble your kinde harts con∣tent, but estéeme your selfe both welcome and beloued in Bo∣hemia, for thousands of my subiects haue already deuoted their liues to your command. And deare friends quoth he, as my selfe I esteeme you, and as my selfe, esteeme your selues welcome hither, for your kindnesse hath deserued that estimation and recompence, that I am not able to make. And deare friend Pol∣lipus, my faithful partner in woe, make you account of all mine as your owne, for well haue you deserued all kinde estimation and friendship of me, whom you haue infinitly bound to you in all league of affection. The Bohemians soone had knowledge of their arriuall, and by infinite troupes came to méete them. Among the rest, Aurestes an ancient noble man, desired Pa∣rismus to vouchsafe him such honor, to grace his poore man∣sion with his presence, & to expect of his vnworthy entertain∣ment, to refresh, himself after his tedious trauailes: whose kind offer Parismus courtiously accepted: where he and the princesse Laurana were so honorably and louingly entertained, as that

the & the rest that were strangers, exceedingly maruailed there at. The aged King & Queene, hauing intelligence that Paris∣mus was arriued, & in safety, cast off their former habit of sad∣nes and bannished cares which long had tormented them, and with exceeding ioye, vnwoonted state, and inexplicable Maiesty, went foorth to meete him, Royallie accompanyed with gallant troupes of Estates. Parismus seeing his aged parents, with all reuerence humbled himself to them: who could haue spent ma∣ny houres onely embracing him, but séeing Laurana, they both came vnto her, most louingly welcomming her, expressing the same with teares, procéeding from the depth of kindnes: with∣all vttering these words. Most vertuous, kinde, and honorable Princesses, our wordes cannot expresse your welcome, nor our deedes shew our good will, our ioye for your presence is not to be described, & our entertainemnt too simple to entertaine you, according to our desires. Which said, the aged Queene after a louing embrace, tooke her by the hande, and all the Ladies of high estate, saluted her with most reuerent behauiours, The good King knowing Pollipus, embraced and welcommed him with great kindenes: likewise the Queene welcommed Vio∣letta, and on euery side, all exprest their ioy, for their happie ar∣riuall. Bonfires were made in the Citie, the Bells •…•…oong in the Countrey, and triumphes in the Court, some welcomed them with giftes, some with myrth, some with praises, and all with ioy and excéeding reioicings, which my dulled pen is altogither vnskilfull to describe, the King and Queene, exceedingly reioy∣ced in their Sonnes vertuous choise: & in Lauranes presence. Laurana was affected with great delight to see their kindnesse, Parismus had his still of cōtent, and altogither greatly admired Lauranaes beautie, & did their best to welcome and entertaine the whole company that came with Parismus, with all Cour∣tesie: that the Bohemian Court, which lately had beene dar∣kened with the mists of sorrowe, was now beautified with the pleasant assemblies of Knights and Ladies, that repaired thi∣ther to welcome home Parismus, and behold the Princesse Lau∣rana, In which place they continued many dayes after. But

Fortune whose constancie was neuer permanent, but dispe∣•…•…th their content.

Pollipus and Violetta vpon a day walkt foorth for recrea∣tion, some halfe mile from the Courte, into a most pleasant sha∣die g•…•…ne woo•…•…, which by meanes of the coolenesse and aboun∣dance of sweete smelling flowers, wherewith it was adorned, and by naturall sleight was so pauised, with the assistance of l•…•…le t•…•…igges and sprayes, that neither the heate of the Sunne, nor vehemencie of winde could molest it, that the place seemed to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ease to their delight, where they louingly sat downe, recreating themselues with great pleasure, and at last fell both a sleepe, in middest of which slumber, a rauen•…•…us wilde Beare that hau•…•…ed those Woods, whom extreame hunger had forced to wander so neare the Court, winded them, and guided by vnluckie Fate, came to the place where they laye, ready to seize vpon the tender bodie of kinde Violetta, who at the verie in∣stant (by the Diuine prouidence) awaked and espying the vg∣lie Beare, suddainly sh•…•…ked. Pollipus amazed with her crie, started vp and drewe out his sword, and rescued her from the beastes violence, pursuing him with such vigor and dexteritie, that the Beare being greuously wounded, shund his blowes, and made hast to get away from him, but hee intending to win honour by his conquest, regardlesly pursued the Beare, vntill hee was quite out of Violettas sight. Who likewise fea•…•…ing his harme, and pricked forward with a tender care of his welfare∣followed after him, but not knowing which way he was gone, tooke a quite contrarie way, and with eger •…•…eppes laboured to ouertake him. He hauing with much trauell slaine the Beare, smo•…•…e off his head, and intending to present that spoyle to his Loue came backe to the place where hee had left her, and mis∣sing her, •…•…ee could not well tell what to thinke, béeing perswa∣ded shee wa•…•… gone to seeke him, wherewith he was •…•…pt in∣to an extreame perplexitie and doubt: fearing that if he should go to the Court to seeke her, she might in the meane time wan∣der out of the way, and runne into daunger. Contrarily, hee

thought if hée should séeke her in the Wood, and shée bée in the Court, his long tariance might bring her in some feare of his welfare, that in these extreamities he could not determine of a∣ny thing: at last calling her with a lowde voyce by name, and not hearing her answere, with all has•…•…e he ranne to the Court, with his spoyle vpon his Swords pointe, and running hastily, hee enquyred if anie sawe Violetta returne, but shee was not there heard off, which made him cast downe the Beares head, and without speaking a word, returned towards the Wood a∣gaine. Which strange behauiour of his, draue the Courtiers (but especially Parismus) into a woonderfull doubt. Parismus séeing the Beares head, and hearing som spéeches of Violettaes absence, presently mounted a goodly Stéede, and with hast rode that way hée was directed pollipus went. Tellamor, Barzillus, and many of the Knights, followed after him, neither of them knowing wherefore they made such haste.

Parismus hauing ouertaken him, demanded if any mischance had befallen Violetta? My Lord (qd. he) as shée and I lay slum∣bering in this Woodde, the Beare whose head I brought to the Court, was ready to seize vpon her, but shée with a shrike awa∣ked mée, and I pursued him vntill I had slaine him: and retur∣ning to the place where I left Violetta, she was gone: neither can I suppose whither, vnlesse shée be wandred to séeke mée, the haste I made was to come backe to séeke her. Doe so (qd. Paris∣mus) and my selfe and these Knights will search the W•…•… throughout: So euery one tooke a seuerall way.

Violetta in the meane time, still wandered on without re∣garde whither she went, her feare perswading her, that still she heard Pollipus blowes, and the Beare going right before her, that with as much spéede as shee could, shee ranne quite out of the Woodde, but yet not setting eye on him; (the night approa∣ching) shée was drawne into an exdéeding feare of his welfare, and her owne daunger: For to goe backe by the Wood she durst not, fearing least shée might againe méete the Furious Beast: and to goe further shée thought it in vaine; for she saw no like∣lyhood hée was come out of the Woodde, and there, what with

griefe and wearinesse, shée sate downe vpon a banque, encom∣bred and ouerwhelmed with a thousand cares, and giuing her minte some respit to ponder on her miserable estate, for feare of her most déere Knights daunger, she entered into such heauie plaints and lamentations, that euen the very woods and med∣dowes whereinto she was wandred, seemed to impart her sor∣rowes, & yéeld pittie to her cries & scorching fighes. At which ve∣ry instant (I knowe not by what vnluckie destinie,) Archas the cruel (so called for his cruell tiranny came to the hearing of her lamentations, and drwing nigh to her, demaunded her cause or sorrow. Sir knight quoth shée, I am a stranger, that lately came •…•…om Thessalie, with the Prince of this Countrie, and this day comming into these woods, with my Lord & husband Polli∣pus, a mighty Beare encountred vs, whom he pursuing, I haue •…•…ost, and am wandred hither, not knowing wh•…•…h way to retire. Archas all this while, well noting her excéeding beautie, and swéet deliuery of spéech, the gratious moouing and disposition of her eyes, which had power to pierce millions of hearts, felt such an inward effect of transitorie confusion in himselfe, that he re∣solued, hauing so fit oportunitie offered him, to trie his wittes to win her loue, or exercise by y^t meanes, some reuenge against Parismus, whom he mortally hated, vttering these spéeches.

Most swéete Ladie, my heart is so much tormented to sée the sorrow you néedlesly make, for no doubt your Knight is in safe∣tie: pleaseth it you to accept of my seruice, my seruants shall guard you to the Bohemian Court, where you shall find him: and my selfe will searche the Wood, to giue him knowledge of your returne.

Violetta kindly thanked him for his courtesie, who presently mounted her behinde one of his seruants, giuing them •…•…ete warning to conuey her to his owne Castle, which was scituate in the mountaine: himselfe tooke her Scarffe, which he said, he wold deliuer vnto Pollipus, as a token that shée was in safetie: wherewith he departed back into the Wood, and tare the same into many peeces, heere scattering one, and there confusedly ca∣sting an other, & with all hast, rode an other way to his Castle.

All which was effected before any of the Bohemian Knightes were come, by which meanes, their diligent search was al in vaine: which draue Pollipus to such an extacie of sorrow, y^t he was almost mad, whom Parismus comforted with many per∣swasions, vntill Pollipus vttered these spéeches. My louing L. neuer shall quiet possesse this brest, rest giue case to my body, nor sléepe refresh my sences, vntill I haue found my beloued, whose loue is my life, whose safetie is my welfare, & whose qui∣et, is my chiefest content. At which very instant, came Tella∣mor, bringing the torne scarffe which Archas hadde strewed, which when Pollipus beheld, a chill colde dispearst through all his vaines, and his vitall breath began to leaue his troubled brest, and all his fences forgat their wonted vse. Which when Parismus behelde hée caught him in his armes, saying: Most noble knifiht, where is now your patiēce, wherewith you won∣tedly endured extremities? no doubt for all this, Violetta is in health, onely wandred out of the way, & gotten •…•…o some house where we shall heare of her to morrow: then comfort your selfe and be not thus ouercome with griefe: for be you assured, n•…•… harme hath betide her. O my Lord (quoth hee) my vertuous Violetta, my constant friend, the most truest loue that euer wretch inioyed, is perished. What comfort, what quiet, what rest, what content, what respit, or what ease can I giue to my troubled minde, since she is fallen into decay, shee most purest, most sweetest, most kindest, and truest Lady that euer liued? how can I recouer this lesse? how can I plague my selfe suffi∣ciently for my misdeeds? these woods condemne me, her ghost accuseth mée, and all the world will hate mée: miserie wayteth my steps, sorrow pincheth my heart, griefe compelleth me, and care inforceth mée to be thus impatient. Whilest I stand here, she may be in danger: whilest I am negligent, the wilde beasts may deuoure her body: then stay me me not, for I am resolued eyther to finde her, or loose my selfe: and therewith in a great furie, flung into the Woodde.

Parismus séeing his sorrowe, and this mishap, stoode like one

in a traunce, not knowing how or which way to remedie the least of these euils, and in that most sad and heauie estate, re∣turned to the Court with his heauie newes, which turned all their ioy into heauinesse, especially Laurana, and all in generall that had knowledge of Violettas vertues, made great lamen∣tation for her losse.