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. XXX.

Of two Battells fought with the Natolian Forces: the manner of Maximus cruell death: and of the friendly league betwixt Pa∣rismus and Marcellus.

THe next morning, Maximus, the King of Lybia, and Santodelodoro, with the States of Natolia, assembled together to determine the doubtfull issue of this warre, and at last by a general consent, con∣cluded to parley with their enemies, and to that intent sent out a Herald to Parismus, who present∣ly returned answere, that if the King of Natolia would parley with him in the Fielde betwixt both

the Campes, hée would there méete him, and conclude a peace for one day, which the king of Natolia accepted. When they were met, Maxi∣mus began as followeth: Prince of Bohemia, what is it thou crauest at my hands? or wherefore hast thou brought, contrary to the lawes of Kings, a band of souldiers into this countrey, where thou act not to set foote without my license? Natolian Tyrant (quoth hee) I come to re∣déeme my sonne, whome thou hast murtheren contrary to lawe, Iu∣stice and equitie, whose blood I require at thy vniust and cruell hands, also to reuenge the manifolde wrongs thou hast done him, by the dis∣loyall and false accusation of the King of Libia here present. Parismus (quoth he) I haue done nothing to thy son, but according to the lawes of this land, which punisheth rape, especially of a Kings daughter, with death. My sonne (quoth he) neuer cōmitted any such act, but carried a∣way Angelica, with her willing consent, whereby he is vniustly iud∣ged: withall, I demaund her of thée, as of right belonging vnto him, for that shée is his betrothed wife, whome I will haue before I leaue Natolia, or sée the ruine of thée and of thy kingdome: therefore yéelde her into my custodie. With that Santodeloboro stept forth and saide: Thinkest thou Bohemian to commaund vs in this place, thou art too weake, therefore be gon quickly, or thou shalt soone sée so many Moores here, as shall confound thy sences with amazement. Knowe (quoth Parismus) that what I haue said I will performe, and so little doo I e∣stéeme your Forces, that I will yéelde those prisoners I haue without ransome: the he gaue them Pridamor againe. Many other spéeches past betwixt them, wherewith in the ende Maximus was so enraged, that he sware by heauen and earth, that hee would rather sée his own death, his countries wracke, and Angelicaes destruction, before she should be giuen to his custodie, and so departed.

Parismenos was excéedingly troubled when he heard Maximus spéeches, whom he knew to be of so cruel a disposition, that he would ra∣ther indéede sée her death, then be crost of his will, that he continued in great care and continuall torment of minde. Assoone as they were par∣ted, Parismus, Pollipus, and Parismenos, beganne to consult what to doo, euery one being desirous of victory, at last Parismenos saide. Most noble Father, if I may presume to giue counsell to you that are of farre greater •…•…sedom, and better experienced in these •…•…martial affairs than I am, this is my opinion: Maximus is of y^t cruell disposition, that rather then hée will be contradicted, hée will sée the destruction of himselfe

and his posteritie, that it is not valor, but wilfulnesse, that maketh him resolute: theyr foes likewise, are so much weakened by the last slaugh∣ter we made amongst them, that if wee can giue them another sudden Onset, they will be vtterly dismayed: Besides, the Kings eldest sonne Marc, is my deare Friend, on whose faith and fidelitie, I durst repose my life: Who if he could attaine the Cittie, would be ready to aide vs; Therefore so pleasath you, let vs giue the Onset, when they are in their dead sléepe, which will bring such terror and amazement to their harts, that they will be like men amazed. Parismus hearing his Words, li∣ked his counsell very well: And thus hee contriued this businesse, the Band should be diuided into thrée parts: the one to be vnder the Con∣duct of himselfe, the other vnder Parismenos, and the third vnder Polli∣pus: Which was so secretly done, that the Getulians had not the least knowledge thereof.

About midnight, when all things were at silence, and the Getulians voyde of suspition, the Bohemians left theyr Tants, and Pollipus with his forces gaue the Onset, violently rushing into the Getulians Camp, on that side was next them. Parismenos went betwixt them and the Citie. And the Prince of Bohemia marched about with his forces and inuaded them on the backe side. The Getulians being then in their déepe sléepe, and without the least thought of any such inuasion, were so amazed with this assault, that they ranne vp and downe, some wea∣ponlesse, and some halfe armed, and some with their swordes onely: and the Bohemians in the midst of them, making an excéeding slaugh∣ter.

The King of Libia and Santodelodoro were so eager, that they ran vp and downe calling for their Armour, and crying out, cou∣rage, courage. And being armed, they began to courage their amazed souldiers, with many comfortable spéeches, but the Bohemians were so thicke amongst them, and had so much disordered them, that some of them lost their liues as they were putting on their armour: others were slaughtered, euen whilest the sléepe were in their eyes: others strooken dead, as they were lifting their armes to strike the first blowe: and some slaine before they could recall their sences from amazement: there might one heare the dismall grones of murdred soules: there might one perceiue slaughter in her royaltie, and reuenge filleth his thirstie heart with blood: feare stood trembling in his right hew, terror appea∣red in the Moores gastly lookes, and victory on the Bohemians swords.

The Prince behinde them, slaughtering some before they could looke backe. Pollipus before them with his furie, parting the soules from the bodies. And Parismenos with his bloody Swoorde, cutting off theyr passage to the Citie. The Prince met with Santodelodoro, and made him flée to saue himselfe from death. Pollipus met with Pridamor, and gaue him so many Woundes, that hee durst no longer abide his sight: Parismenos, turned backe the King of Lybiaes steppes, hasting to the Cittie, and pursued him with such eager chase, and gaue him so manie grieuous Woundes, that had hee not withdrewe, and held himselfe a∣mongst a throng of Lybians, he had died by his hands. All the Natoliās were amazed, terrified, discouraged and confounded in their thoughtes, being so cruelly and valiantly assaulted by the Bohemians, that they be∣ganne to flie and forsake the Campe, euery one shifting to saue his life: ther was such a cry, that the noise therof was heard into the Citty. The Cittizens, supposing there had bin some mutiny in the Camp, amongst Souldiers, ranne out at the Gates: Which aduantage Parismenos soone espyed, and got their possession. Then began the Cittizens to crie out, and ran with amazed terror: the Beacons were set on fire, the bels rung out with a confused noise, & euery signe of amazement was made. This noise soone came to Maximus hearing, who vexed with a chaos of confused thoughts, caught vp a sword, and in a desperate furie ran into the Citie, the Knights be tooke them to their Armor, the Ladies forsooke their Beddes, wringing their hands, and making great lamentations. Angelica affrighted with their cryes, apparelled her selfe, not knowing what this great tumult should pretend. Marcellus likewise was with the noyse awakened from his sléepe, and leauing Panoraes house, with his Sword in the one hand, and his Doublet in the other, ran out into the open stréetes, to sée what might be the cause of this vprore. By this time the stréetes were filled with Souldiers, and Parismenos was got∣ten to the Court-gates: Where he met with Maximus the King, but would not offer to touch him: Who like a furious, mad, and desperate man, ranne amongst the Bohemian Souldiers, brandishing his sword, and slaughtering such as stood next him, where he met with Marcellus ranging about, starke mad with griefe; Who desired him to withdraw himselfe, least he were destroyed by the common-Souldyers: but he re∣fusing his counsell, and ouercome with mad Frenzie, rushed in amongst the thickest of them, •…•…out consideration, Wounding some, and slaugh∣tering those that offered not to touch him (being before commaunded

by Parismenos not to lay violent handes on him) but his carlesse surie wrought his owne downefall: and his owne follie confirmed the Pro∣phesie that he had long time feared: For most lamentablie in throng of the Bohemian Horsemen, he was troden to death. By this time Mar∣cellus was come to the Court, fearing least the Souldiers should enter, and affreight the Quéene and Angelica, Where hee found Parismenos, though vnknowne, kéeping the Entrance, running at him most furis ously; To whom Parismenos saide: Marcellus holde thy hands, here is none but Friends. With that word he saide; Who art thou that knowest me? I am (qd. he) a friend to Marcellus, and wish you with∣draw your selfe into the Court, least you be hurt amongst my souldiers. Marcellus hearing his spéeches, stept within the Court-Gates. By this time the Prince of Bohemia and Pollipus had put the Natolian forces to fleight, and taken Santodelodoro and Pridamor prisoners, the king of Lybia was fled, the common-Souldyers had ransackt the Campe, and beganne to sacke the Citty, vntill the day began to appeare: and the Prince of Bohemia and Pollipus hauing attained victorie, gaue com∣maundement that none vpon paine of death should offer to enter any of the Citizens houses.

The Nobles séeing what slaughter the Bohemians had made, how the Moores and Lybians were fledde, and the Cittie ready to be sackt, came to the Quéene, and certified her the trueth of all. Who missing Maximus, carelesly ranne into the Cittie to séeke him, renting her gar∣ments, and making excéeding mone: and at last found him troden to death, and not slaughtered by mans force, but by the brute Beasts: ca∣sting her selfe carelesly and desperately vpon his dead Corpes, vttering many lamentable spéeches, vntill the Nobles withheld her, from dooing her salfe violence, which shee often intended, and taking vp the dead kings corps, carried him to the Court with great lamentation.

Marcellus camming to Parismus, with a kinde behauiour, said; Most Noble Prince of Bohemia, I beséech you stay your incensed wrath, and séeke not the Ruine and Destruction of this Cittie and vs: For Maxi∣mus being dead, there is none that will make resistance, but rather en∣tertaine you with willing harts, being alwaies vnwilling to haue mo∣ued you to séeke this Reuenge: but that it was not in vs to contradict Maximus will: Who was rather ledde and ouerruled by rags then ad∣uise: Therefore we yéelde our selues to your mercie. Parismus beeing certified that it was Marcellus whome loued Parismenos, and was al∣wayes

his deare Friende, saide.

Noble Prince, thinke that I sought no way to iniure you, but to redéeme my Sonne, and reuenge his wrong: Which now the iust Hea∣uens haue executed in my behalfe: but what restitution can be made me for his lesse: Whose vntimely death was noted by Maximus cruel∣tie? I séeke not your harme, but his recouerie: Therefore be you assu∣red of Peace, and that I will at your request cease all further strife, vp∣on your Princely promise of securitie. Marcellus then said, I haue al∣wayes honored your Name: much more doo I affect your presence, de∣siring nothing more, then to be well estéemed of you: that now Maxi∣mus is dead, and my selfe next to succéed in the Kingdome: Whosoeuer shall offer iniurie to the worst Bohemian Souldier, I will hate him whilest I liue: Therfore I beséech you rest in assurance, vpon my pro∣mise, and vouchsafe such Entertainment as this Court can yéelde, too vnworthy to giue you Welcome. Which wordes Marcellus spake in the hearing and presence of all the Nobles and Péers of his Land: who likewise (notwithstanding the slaughter the Bohemians hadde made) willingly ratified his spéeches, with their vnconstrained consent.

Parismus then alighted and embraced Marcellus, and Pollipus did the like: First, appointed what the Souldiers should doo: And then went into the Court with Marcellus.

The Souldiers that were dispearsed to euery corner of the Cittie, returned to the Campe, sauing onely a sufficient Guarde of Bohemian Knightes, that stayed to Guarde the Prince. Marcellus sent out mes∣sengers, to gather togither all the scattered Troupes of the Getulian Campd, and gaue them great Rewards: those that were maimed and Wounded, hee also caused to bee brought to a place, where they were very diligently looked vnto by skilfull Physitions. And euery one not∣withstanding theyr former discontentes, were by Marcellus highly sa∣tisfied.