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. XXI.

How the Knight of Fame arriued in the county of Bohemia, and redeemed Violetta from Archas. How Archas was put to death. How the knight of Fame came to the knowledge of his Parents, and after that, departed againe toward Natolia.

AFter that the Knight of Fame was past the boundes of Natolia, hee arriued in an exceeding great plaine, where hee sawe many readie pathes, but knew not which of them to take: at last a suddaine thought and remembrannce of Parismus entered his fancy, which so fully possest his minde, that the thought and rembembrance of Parismus entred his fancie, which so fully possest his minde, that the thought thereof, would by no meanes remooue, which was so effectually wrought in him by a natural effect, for there were his Parents, & no where else, which caused nature it self, to pitty his restlesse Passions, and no longer to procrastinate his

felicitie, that hée fully and resolutelie determined to trauell thi∣ther.

Whither afterwards with long trauell he attained, hauing great desire to sée Parismus againe, to whom his heart had vowed euerla∣sting friendship. And now drawing nigh the Court, in the afternoone when the sunne had with his scorching beames made the season hotte, hée heard a gréeuous complaint, as it séemed to his hearing, of some di∣stressed ladie, which made him stay to listen which way that crie came, and by the voyce, drawing nigh vnto the place, he espied vnder the sha∣dowe of a heape of Elmes, a knight in Armour, and a Lady at his féete, who were the same that made that mone. The knight of Fame com∣ming neare them, they both espyed him, to the Ladies comfort: but the Knight presently tooke vppe his shield, and addressed himselfe for his de∣fence.

The Knight of Fame well noting the Ladies countenance, re∣membred that hée had seene her, but hée could not remember where, which caused him the more willingly to helpe her: being otherwise of his owne vertuous inclination, readie to succour any distressed Ladie: that comming to her, demanded her cause of sorrowe: but shée being rea∣die to make him answere, and holding vp her hands to craue his pit∣tie, y^e other knight setting his sword against her breast, vowing, that if the spake one word, he would thrust the same through her body: which the Knight of Fame séeing, thinking he went about to stay her, with his sword drawne, rusht violently against him, and ouerthrew him: but gi∣uing him leaue to recouer his féete, he said: Traiterous villaine, why offerest thou this Lady such discourtesie, being ashamed she should de∣clare thy treachery: which mauger thy hart, I will know before we two part: with that he lent him such a blow, that he made him stagger: the Knight thought himselfe now in worse case then euer he had bene: but notwithstanding, hée resisted the knight of Fame most couragiously for a space, but hée being the most gallantest Knight in the world, soone brought him in great daunger of his life: which when the knight saw and felt, he stayed himselfe, and said; Knight, before the combat conti∣nue any longer, let me know your name? I will not shew thée that fa∣uour (quoth the knight of Fame) but wish thée yéelde thy selfe: neither will I shew thée that fauour (quoth he) with that hée began the combat againe, being scarce able to lift vp his sword, by reason of his fainte∣nesse by effusion of blood, intending to ende his life: which the Knight

of Fame perceiuing, clasped him in his armes, & with violence wrung his sword out of his hands, and by force made him yeelde, hauing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 weapon to offend himselfe nor his aduersary.

The Ladie seeing her selfe thus fortunately deliuered, comming to the knight of Fame, desired him to pittie her estate, and not to forsake her vntill she were come to the Bohemian court. With that, the knight of Fame was excéedingly glad, saying Lady, I will not forsake you, but sée you there in safetie, for thither am I bound. But I pray you (quoth he) let me know your name, for that I haue I am sure séene you about the Forest of Adre? Violetta with that was drawne into a great ad∣miration what hée should bée, at last shée said: my name is Violetta, that am ordained to perpetuall miserie, beeing indéede by the trecherie of a disloyall knight named Archas, driuen to wander thither∣wards.

The knight of Fame then immediately remembring her, but bée∣ing vnwilling to discouer himselfe, questiōed no more with her, but on∣ly asked her what that knight was: Sir knight (quoth she) I know him not, nor why he hath offered me this outrage. Which said, the knight of Fame forced him to go with them, and so they departed towards the court, where very soone they arriued. Now it hapned, that Paris∣mus at that very instant was in the court, who espying Violetta ac∣companied by two knights, the one of them being greeuously woūded and as it were by his countenaunde, & manner of forced comming, see∣ming captiue to the other, and not knowing of any misaduenture that had befallen her, wondred thereat: and comming to her, not wel know∣ing in what sort to salute those Knights, being ignorant of the cause of their cōming, he demāded where she had bin? My Lord (quoth she) this knight, meaning the knight of Fame, hath preserued me from the disho∣nor of this most discourteous knight, intended against me, as I will de∣clare vnto you presently. With that Parismus most kindly embraced the knight of Fame, departing altogither into the presence, where was the king & Queene, Pollipus, Laurana, & many others. Pollipus seeing Violetta amōgst those strange knights, maruelled thereat, but she com∣ming before the king vpō her knees, desired instice against the woūded knight: the king told her that shee should haue iustice. Violetta then said, as followeth. Most mightie king, I beseech you regard my com∣plaint: reuenge the monstrous wrong don me by this most wicked and abhominable homicide, who hath offered monstrous outrage: for this

afternoone, attended by my damozell, I went forth of the court into the groue adioyning to the garden, to recreate my selfe in the cooly shade: where I had not long stayed, but this discurteous Uillaine surprised me, and caught hold of my damzel, who made great exclamation, fea∣ring my harme, whome he bound both hand and foote: threatning if she made any noyse to murther her. Which done, he tooke me by violence, and halling and pulling me most rudely and discourteously, would haue conueyed me I know not whither, vntill this valiant Knight by good fortune, hearing my complaints, redeemed me from his tyrannie. The King hearing her speeches, commanded the knight to discouer himsefe, but he being exceedingly ashamed, and loath to be knowne, refused the same: but at last, by some of the Bohemian Knighs was vnarmed, when presently Violetta knew him, wherewith she gaue an exceeding start, as if she had beene affrighted at his sight. Parismus and Pollipus likewise knewe him, certifying the King, that it was Archas, that had before offered the like villanie to Violletta, which the King well re∣membred.

Then he said: Cruell tyrant, what excuse canst thou inuent to shelter this villanie: what canst thou alleage in thy defence, but that thou oughtest to suffer the most reproachful death that can be inuented; but this censure will I giue of thee, not to fauour thee, but to deale iustlie with that Knight, whose Prisoner thou arte, and therefore, as hee by right hath conquered thee, so wee will that hee shall be thy iudge.

The Knight of Fame had all this while diligently viewed Laura∣naes bewtie, her countenance, and euery part of her behauiour, that he tooke great delight in viewing her, but hearing the kings speech, he vn∣armed his head: whom Parismus soone knew, and most louingly em∣braced: likewise Pollipus & Violetta knowing him, saluted him with many courtesies: when presently Parismus declared vnto his father, that it was the famous knight that was called the Lnight of Fame.

The King hearing that it was he, of whome he had heard so many honourable reports, rose from his kingly seat, and embraced him most louingly: and euery one in generall, seemed to be most exceedingly de∣lighted with his presence.

Laurana beholding his countenance, felt an exceeding throbbing suddainly possesse her heart: withall, such a violent blushing flasht in

her face, that she wondred whence such sudden motions should proceed, and was constrained to turne aside, least any should perceiue her chan∣ging countenance, and withdraue himselfe to a Window. This alte∣ration being wrought in her by a naturall instinct, which shee was al∣together ignorant of.

The Knight of Fame not vnmindfull to satisfie Violettaes wrong, by some reuenge against Archas, most humbly thankt the King for ho∣nouring him so much, by giuing him authority to giue his Doome: but (qd. he) I most humbly intreat your Highnes to pardon mee, and desire your Wisedome, to whome hee hath bene offensiue, to vse him as you please: For it were great presumption for mee in this straunge place to censure of him in your Maiesties presence.

Then the King called Archas, commaunding him to declare what mooued him to commit that outrage to Violetta? but hée assuring him∣selfe of no lesse then death, would make no answere: Wherevpon the King commanding him to bee had to Prison, appoynted that the next day he should loose his head: Which was accordingly performed: Who might peraduenture haue bene pardoned, but that his owne conscience accused him more then those whome hee had offended, and so according to his owne follie which had brought him to commit all those Wicked acts, euen so hee was his owne Iudge: For that his guiltie conscience would not suffer him to aske pardon. After this iudgement giuen, eue∣ry mans minde was in quiet, hauing sufficiently scanned the circum∣stance of Violettaes misfortune.

The Knight of Fame was Royallie entertained, and honourablie feasted by the King of Bohemia, but especially Parismus and Laurana, vsed him with excéeding kindenesse, being for that night driuen to part from him without any conference. But Laurana was so excéedingly troubled with his remēbrance, that she could scarce take any rest at all that Night, for thinking on him, not knowing what should mooue her to such vnwoonted alteration: that in the morning, when Parismus and shée were in some conference about the Knight of Fame; she saide: My Lord, I know not what should mooue me to thinke any such thought, but I am perswaded, that his arriuall will bring vs either some vnex∣pected ioy or sudden sorrow: For since I first sawe him, my heart hath neuer bene quiet: neyther can I, though I striue to the contrarie, once put his remembrance out of my minde: Which hath so fully possest my fancie, that I could take no rest this night.

Myselfe (qd. Parismus) haue felt the selfe-same Passion, not onely nowe, but also at my first méeting with him in the Forrest of Arde: Which maketh mee partly of the selfe same opinion with you, and also desirous to knowe of whence he is. In this and such like communi∣cation they continued some time, till Parismus left her, and went to the Knight of Fame, who was already in companie of Pollipus; Whome Parismus most kindely vsed, and afterwardes being at a most Royall Feast, which was prepared onely for his more honourable Welcome: After dinner, being requested by Parismus (who was desirous to know of whence he was) there being the King and Quéene, Parismus, Laura∣na, Pollipus, and Violetta, and diuers others, he beganne to declare the whole discourse of his trauells to them in this sort. If I should de∣clare my Name and Byrth (qd. hee) I know not how to beginne: For that I my selfe am ignorant thereof: but so much as I can remember, I will hide no part from you. I was brought vp in a countrey in Tar∣taria, called the Iland of Rockes, my Parents, for any thing I know, being poore; or whether they were or no, I know not, but when I was of some remembrance, eyther my Mother that brought me vp, or rather my Nurse (for she would not suffer me to call her mother) departed from her habitation, I know not with what intent: but by the way a Lyon flue her, whome I pursued to his Denne: Where being come, I could not returne backe to my Nurse, by which meanes I stayed in that place many yeares: vntill on a time, shee appe•…•…ed vnto mee in a Dreame: Warning me to forsake that vnfrequented place, and goe to the Castle of Rockes: Which I presently did, then not knowing what a Castle meant: Where, at the first I was roughly handled, but at last I was kindely vsed by Tyresus, who brought me vp a long time: With whom I departed to Sea: Where by a mighty tempest, the shippe and all that were in the same were cast away, my selfe onely was cast on the Shore in Thrace: Where I was succoured by the good Duke Amasenus, in whose Court I was often like to be destroyed, by some of his Knightes that enuyed •…•…ée: From whence I departed to the Kings Court, hea∣ring of a generall Triumph that was held: the Kings Daughter being appointed the Conquerours reward: Whome I Wanne, and was de∣termined to haue marryed: from which I was warned of by a Uision: Which willed me to surrender vp my Title in Phylena, to Remulus, to whome she was before betrothed: Which I did, and also that I would

trauell in search of my Parents. Which the Uision tolde mée were of Kingly race: And withall, gaue me another commaund, that I should loue no Lady, vntill I had found out that Lady that was showne mee in the Uision: this did greatly trouble me, when presently came newes of Tyrides death, sonne to Duke Amasenus, who was slaine by Bran∣damor in rescue of Venola, whom he had the custodie of: Upon which occasion I trauelled first to Lybia, and from thence to the Forrest of Arde, thinking Venola had bene the same Lady appeared to mee in the Uision. Where I met with your Highnesse, and with you departed to the Court of the King of Lybia, after Venola was redéemed, as your selfe rmember, who was not the Lady I went in searche of. After∣wards when I had thought to haue departed with you towardes this Countrey, Venola by subtiltie, causing mée to take a séepie Potion, frustrated my desire, which she did to stay me with her, vpon a pretence of great Loue as she bare me, which one afterwards made me acquain∣ted withall: Which when I heard, being enioyned to place my affecti∣ons on another, fearing some mischaunce might arise by her Loue, and finding with out what deuice they had frustrated me of your company, I departed without knowledge of any from thence. And at last after long Trauell, arriued in Natolia; Where lying downe to rest my selfe being wearie, it happened the Lady Angelica (the most fairest Lady li∣uing, to passe by:) Whom after I had séene, I perfectly knewe to be the Ladie that appeared to me in the Uision, hauing after such good successe, that I was entertained by Maximus the King, at the Golden Tower, and there grewe into great acquaintance with Marcellus. I had not long remained there, but the King of Lybia (as I suppose, perswaded thereto by Venolaes meanes) Wrote a Letter vnto Maximus, that hee would for his sake either send mée to him, or else be reuenged on mée by my death: alleadging that I had dishonoured his Daughter: Which accusation was most false and vntrue. Heereupon the King without hearing what I could say in mine owne defence, immediately cast mee into a denne of fierce Lyons, who refused to hurt mée: Where I remai∣ned many dayes, hauing no other Foode but such as was cast to them: from whence afterwards I escaped by the Kéepers meanes; Whom I compelled to send for Marcellus, who ridde me out of the Tower, and sent me to an Ancient friende of his named Iabine, Priest of S. Au∣stines Chappell, promising to come to mée the next day, but was disap∣poynted thereof by such meanes as is not yet come to my knowledge.

Upon a day I went abroad from the Chappell, and by misfortune was espyed by some of the Kings Knights; Who certified him, (as I think) that I was aliue; Wher vpon he againe most vniustly sought my life, and sent out thousands in my search: from whose handes I escaped, in∣tending to finde out my Parents, and so trauelled hitherwards. This (quoth he) is the briefe and true rehearsall of my trauells and bringing vppe, so farre as I knowe: hauing nothing whereby to bee otherwise knowne, but a Iewell which my Nurse gaue me great charge to kéepe; Whose minde I haue fulfilled. With that, he pulld out of his bosome the Iewell, which he continually wore about his neck: Which Laura∣na hauing diligently viewed, perfectly knew to be the same she had lefte with Parismenos, in the Iland of Rocks: Whom she assuredly (both by that and many other probabilities) knew to be her sonne, that suddenly before them all, she caught him in her armes, and cryed; Oh my sonne Parismenos, thou art my Sonne: many times kissing and embracing him. Her strange behauiour draue them all into admiration. When suddenly the place where they were, beganne to waxe darke, that they could scarce sée one another, and they heard a voyce, which they knewe not from whence; Which said, Parismus welcome thy sonne Parisme∣nos, long time absent from thée: thou néedest not doubt of it, for none is so like thée in Heroicall qualities; Which saide, the darknesse pre∣sently vanished.

By this they all assuredly knew that the Knight of Fame was sonne to Parismus and Laurana; Who likewise assured himselfe that hee had found his Parents▪ that presently he knéeled downe: Whom Parismus, the King, the Quéene, and Laurana, most louingly all at once incom∣passed with theyr kinde embracings, reioycing most exceedingly for ioy that he was found, being vnable by Words, Welcoms, Embracings, or otherwise, to expresse their gladnesse. Parismus reioycing that hee had so valiant and vertuous a Sonne, the King and Quéene glad that in theyr olde Age they sawe so vertuous an imposprung foorth of theyr issue to succéede in the Kingdome. And Laurana with teares of ioy ex∣pressing her content, in that she had found her sonne whom she thought had bin destroyed long ago: that no hart is able to expresse the ioy that possest their harts. Pollipus and Violetta, they likewise embraced him, being as glad as any of the rest, of his safetie. This newes was soone spred throgh the whole Court, & from thence, flying fame soone brought the knowledge thereof to the Citizens, who of their owne accord, rung

theyr Bells, made bon-fires, and Triumphs, through the whole Citie: Where on all sides, was such excéeding reioycings, as is impossible to be exprest.

Many dayes afterwards the Knight of Fame, who now shall assume his right and proper Name Parismenos, continued in the Bohemian Court, honourablie entertayned, and highly estéemed of the Bohemian States: Who grue into an excéeding loue towards him, and was kind∣ly beloued of the King and Quéene, but especially of his Parents, who thought themselues moste happie and blessed, to haue such a Sonne: Whose fame was spredde through most places of all the Worlde, and that euery mans eares were filled with the report of his most honou∣rable déedes.

Now that Parismenos had thus happily attained the knowledge of his Parents, the want whereof had long time filled his minde w^t care, no other thought but of Angelicas Loue could take place in his heart, which (though his cause of ioy otherwise was sufficient) filled his sences with sadnesse, and quite extinguisht those delights, that they séemed to trouble his minde, rather tedious then cōfortable: adding no ease to his cares, which were augmented to an excéeding height, by reason of Max∣imus cruelty, which he saw was so much aggrauated against him, that he knew it a thing impossible for him to attaine the least fauour at his hand: Who likewise kept Angelica Guarded so strongly, and so nar∣rowly pryed into all her actions, that it was impossible any way, eyther to come to her spéech, or send to her: that with diuersitie of the cogita∣tions, his hart was tormented, his countenance darkned, and hée spent his time most commonly in sadnesse: beeing séeldome drawne to any myrth: Which was generally noted of all men, but especiallie of Lau∣rana, who could neuer be quiet but onely in his company.

And one a day missing him, shée rested not vntill she had found him out, being gotten into the most solitariest place in the Garden, leaning himselfe vpon his Elbow: Who espying her, raised himselfe from the ground, blushing at her presence; to whome she said.

Why how now Parismenos, What sadnesse is that which posses∣seth your minde, that maketh you so e•…•…range your selfe from company, to delight in solitarinesse? is there none so highly in your fauour, that they may know the truth thereof? or is your cause of care such as none can remedie? or not counsell you for your ease? I am sure there are many would not refuse to vse their endeuors to pleasure you, especially

myselfe would both willingly doo my best to comfort you, and knowe the cause if it be not too secret.

Parismenos with humble reuerence made her this answer: I beséeth you doo not thinke me so vndutifull, nor my cause of care so secret, that I would conceale the same from you: but were it of much more impor∣tance, I would willingly reueale it to satisfie your minde: which I haue omitted, as vnwilling to trouble you therwith, and for no other respect.

Then I pray (qd. she) let me know, is it not Loue? Yes most déere Mother (qd. he) it is Loue, and to that beautifull Ladie Angelica, who beareth me the like affection: but so farre am I from enioying her loue, as that it attainteth my heart with care to thinke thereof, which is the cause of my sadnes: which will increase, rather then diminish, if I doe not shortly trauell thither, being now assured of all other doubtes, and hauing finished my trauell in search to finde you out. Therfore I most humbly beseech you to procure my Lord and Fathers cōsent to my spée∣dy departure: For without the fruition of her heauenly sight, my life wilbe but wearisome. Laurana hearing his spéeches, perceiued indéede, that his affection was great, and therefore not to be remooued, and well knowing by her owne former experience, that Loue was incurable, thee was the more ready to pitie his passions, that shee promised to further him in what the could, being now assured of the cause of his sadnesse.