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. III.

¶ How Parismenos was brought vp in the Iland of Rocks in Tarta∣ria. How his Nurse was slaine by a Lyon. How hee liued many yeares like a wilde Man, and afterwardes arriued at Andramarts Castle.

AT such time as Laurana was imprisoned in the Iland of Rocks, vnder the gouernment of Ada∣masia, Andramarts sister (as is declared in the first part of this History) the nurse vnto whose custody the young childe Parismenos was committed, fea∣ring his vntimely death, which Adamasia threat∣ned, because his mother would not consent to An∣dramarts Lust, secretly (to saue the Child from her cruelty) fled by night into a desolate wood, wher she carefully educated him according to the condition of the place, which was with such wild fruite as the gathered, making many a hard shift to •…•…āch her hunger, and defend the swéete Babe from Famine, vntill at length, hearing of Andramarts death, she determined to returne to the Castle, and there present him to his Mother: and to that intent, forsaking her poore ha∣bitation she went as she thought, thitherward, but most vnfortunate∣ly, wandred into a desolate and vnfrequented Wildernes; where she had not long stayed, but met a fierce and cruell Lyon, who slewe her: which when Parismenos beheld, notwithstanding his infancie, he la∣boured with his weake resistance to preserue her: but the Lyon refu∣sing to hurt him, withdrue himselfe to his denne, whither Parismenos boldly pursued him: and being entred therin, the Lyon began to wag his taile, and fawne vpon him gently, which made him maruell why hee had slaine his Nurse, and would not hurt him: and made him the

more bolde, that being wearie with trauell, hée layde himselfe dow•…•… to sleepe, and when he awooke, being very hungrie, he gathered wilde fruite, whereof there was plentie, which was his foode, and •…•…he cleare water his drinke. This was his habitation a long time, taking great pleasure to hunt and chase the wilde bea•…•…s, from whose furie he was stil preserued by the Lyon. Afterwards when he was growen to riper age, in his sleepe he drempt, that his Nurse appeared vnto him, wil∣ling him to forsake that vnfrequented pla•…•…e, and to seeke out Andra∣marts Castle, where hee should finde people, in whose companie he should be brought vp.

When he awaked, he could not tell what to thinke of his dreame, nor what she meant by Andramarts Castle, nor which way to go thi∣ther, being therewith drawne into a deepe studie, but suddenly hee es∣pyed a young Beare, whose sight made him quite forget his dreame, and taking exceeding delight to chase such Beasts, hee caught vp his staffe, and followed her, and pursued her so fiercely, that at length •…•…e slew her, wherewith he was wandred so farre, that getting to the top of a Mountaine, and looking round about him, he espyed the Castle, thinking that was the place his Nurse had told him of in his dreame, that he went thither wards. It chanced one of the Knights that Pa∣rismus had left to keep the Castle, espied him: and being of a sadde dis∣position, seeing Parismenos begin to withdrawr himselfe, ran to him, and offred to lay hands on him. But Parismenos being afraid of his behauiour, strooke at him with his staffe so fiercely, that hadde he not quickly auoyded his blowe, he had beaten •…•…ut his braines. The Tar∣tarian being angrie, drew his sworde, and therewith wounded Paris∣menos in the thigh: the smart wherof so inraged him, that notwith∣standing all his resistance he left him for dead.

Afterwards entring the Castle, his minde was drowne into an ex∣céeding delight, to behold the goodly buildings and beautie therof. The Tartarians beholding one in such strange disguise: (For he was clad in the skinnes of such beasts as he had slaine, and his haire growne to a great length) much marueled how he came into that countey: with∣all, noting his comely personage, & stately countenance, were sudden∣ly drawne into a great affection towards him, that they saluted him most kindely, demanding the cause of his arriuall in that place, and of whence he was? who séeing their behauior to be more gentle then the others, with whom he had encountred before, made answer so well as

he could, that he knew not: which •…•…lunt answere of his, made them muse. Withall, noting his attyre, they tooke him eyther to be a mad∣man, or that he had bene Sauagely brought vp: which they were the rather perswaded vnto, for that hee was very young. Notwithstan∣ding, they entertained him, and vsed him most kindly. But his coun∣tenance, calling to remembrance the Noble knight Parismus, whome hee so much resembled, that they were halfe-perswaded hee was his Sonne, that the Nurse fled withall. One amongst the rest named Ty∣resus, vsed him most kindely, apparelled him decently, and instructed him in all points belonging to chiualrie: teaching him to manage a Horse, and to vse Armour, wherunto he was so apt, and tooke therein such delight, that in short space hee grew to such perfection, that he ex∣celled his instructor in all warlike behauiours. And was so generally beloued, that nothing they had or could deuise, was too deare for him.

Many dayes remained Parismenos amongst the Tartarians, increa∣sing in many exellēt qualities, not finding occasions inough amongst them to make triall of his manhood. Upon, a time certaine Pyrates returning from Sea, in his hearing, made report of their battells and skirmishes, and the huge Slaughters they had made: reporting how Tragically they murdered soine of the Resistants, and how valiantly some withstood them, and with what trauell they endured the fights. Making particular rehearsall of one Captaine amongst the rest, who so valiantly withstood them, that before they could vanquish him, hee had slaine aboue twenty of them: but in the end, séeing that by reason of their multitude, he must needes eyther be taken Prisoner, or die, he rather chose an honorable death, then to become their captine, and in∣dured the fight, vntill with faintnesse he fell downe dead, euen as hee was aduancing his sword to re•…•… them. Which report of theirs, kin∣deled such honorable sparkes in Parismenoes brest, that he extreamly thirsted to see those ski•…•…ishes, accounting it dishonorable for him to spend his dayes in that obscure place: his thoughtes still ayming at higher matters, and his fantie perswading him, that he should rather spend his time in Heroycall exercises in kings courts, then in that vn∣frequented place, where no pleasing attempts of Martiall déedes were exercised: which thoughts tooke such effect, that he presently determi∣ned to seek aduentures abroad: And comming to Tyrefus (who loued him dearely) he told him his whole intent, asking his aduise therein. Tyresus seing such a resolued valor in him, told him, that he was both

ready and willing to doe my thing that might ag•…•… to his Fancie, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 purchase his content: that if he desired to trauell and hazard himselfe by Sea, he way ready to goe with him: Or if he were determined to seeke strange Aduentures by Land, hee would likewise trauell with him, and forsake no perill for his sake.

Parismenos hearing his courteous replye, could not chuse but em∣brace him, yéelding him many thankes. Tyresus effected all things with such speed, and so well ordered his affaires to further his intent, that within few dayes they departed into a Ship, well manned & vic∣tualled, hoysing vp their Sailes with a mery gale, committing them∣selues to the mercies of the Seas. They sayled many dayes without any aduenture, which inwardly fretted parismenos, for his mind lon∣ged to performe some exployt. At last they kenned a Saile a farre off, and towards it they stirred amaine; and cōming nigh the ship, laid her aboord, which was of Barbaria, well manned with stout Moores: who seeing the Pyrates, and knowing that either they must resolutly fight it out, or become Captiues, valiantly resisted them: betweene who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 began a most fierce and cruell fight, where Parismenos had meanes e∣nough to exercise his valor, who behaued himselfe with such courage, that many Moores that day last their liues by his Infant blowes.

Egtadam Captaine of the Moores, being a man of exceeding cou∣rage, seeing the cruell slaughter parismenos made, came to him, & vt∣tered these speeches. Proud Pyrat, thou shalt deerly buy these Moores liues, for I am determined to bring thy cursed life to an end, that thin∣kest by Robberie to enrich thy selfe. Wherewith hee assailed him so fiercely that he wounded him in many places: not withstanding, such was his valor, that with great force he likewise so valiantly defended himself, and offending Egradam, that it was doubtful which of them would haue the conquest. In middest of this truell Fight, a mightie storm began suddenly to arise, and the winds began to blow with vi∣olence, that their Cables burst, & both light of day and Sun was sha∣dowed by thick Cloudes, the Seas began to rage and swell, that they were enforced to giue ouer their fight, the Thunders roared, and the Lightnings flasht about their ears, & their ship 〈◊〉〈◊〉 violence of the sur∣ging seas, was so tost, that there was none but expected present death. The Northern blast rent their Sailes, one way goes theyr Helme, an other way swims their Maste, with violence forne from the ship, and waue vpō ma•…•…e rusht in, ready to ouerturn the ship, who now tossing

vpon the Seas at libertie, was driuen vppon a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Rocke, and split in •…•…under. Then began a hydeous crie amongst the souldiers: Some cursing Parismenos the causer of that Iourney, some exclaiming on Tyresus, and some banning their own destinies. Some whelmed vn∣der the gaping water, yéeld vp their ghosts: here three at once are cast vpon the rocks, & againe deuoured by the waues: there others sunke in the quicksands, and down falls the Maister he adlong: then might you behold men swimming in their Armour: here and there striuing to make their deaths tedious. Here might you sée one seated vppon a planck, ouerthrowne with a waue: there another tumbling with his heeles vpward. Parismenos (by good Fortune) was gotten vp to the Masse, whose length had some power to endure the waues, with his swore drawn in his hand. Tyresus he was gotten on to a chest, where∣with a while he applyed himselfe from drowning, but in the ende the raging waues drenched him deep in their spatious gulfes. Within a while the raging Seas began to cease•…•…nd war calme, the sunne began to shine, and the clowds to vanish that darkned the skies, and the mast whereon Parismenos satte, began to s•…•…de along with the calme tide; When he looked about him, and espyed all his followes drowned, and exceeding sorrowe ouer whelmed his heart, especially for his louing friend Tyresus, that had not the feare he was in reuiued his sences, he would haue waxt carelesse of his owne life. But the remembrance of his perill made him recall his better sences to their former vse, and to studie for his owne safetie, to whom the Seas were so mercifull, that with a gentle and calme 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he was driuen to shore: where getting to a S•…•…y banke, he sat hi•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to refresh his wearyed limmes, and po•…•…der his most happy 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉his gaping Wounds with such l•…•…n as hee had about him, who with the falte water smarted exceedingly.