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. XXXIIII.

¶ How Parismenos gote shipping for Germanie. How they were betrayed by Theoretus. And howe after a stormi•…•… Tempest, and hard escape from drowning, they were pre∣serued by a Fisher-man of Thessalie.

PArismenos now hauing againe attained Ange∣licaes possessions, the want whereof hadde before long time opprest and vexed his troubled heart with care, and hauing refreshed themselues with the repast Iconius had prouided; whilest Iconi∣us and his Seruants went (by Annas direction) to the place where the deade bodie of Irus lay, to burie the same, he tooke Angelica in his armes, solacing himselfe in the viewe of her attractiue Beautie, amongst the rest vttering these speeches.

My dearest Loue, I trust you will pardon my spéeches, if they procéede from a bolder Familiaritie then heretofore: For that n•…•…we hauing obtained your gentle consent to perpepuall Loue, and hauing dedicated your selfe as mine to dispose of, I shall not feare in bolde∣nesse to call you mine owne: and assume such interest as you haue kindely graunted. Now these misfortunes are thus ouer-blowen, though with your miserie, which hath beene my torment, I beséeche you, banish from your minde the remembrance of former sorrowe, and repose your confidence in my fidelitie: For since I haue enioyed your presence, nothing shall make me parte from you, no not so much as out of your sight: Neither will I (vntill I haue conducted you to the place I most desire,) by no misaduenture be drawn from you, nei∣ther is my minde now in quiet, for that notwithstanding my shew of credence, I giue no trust to Icon: truth, but will trust him so far as I

triall of his Loyaltie, and not otherwise: but tomorrow-morning, so pleaseth you: We will leaue this place, and betake our selues for some course of security: for I see that being in this Countrey, I shall neuer bee in securitie, but manie will seeke to crosse my content, al∣though I may repose assured confidence in your vertuous kindnesse, which hath bene extended farre beyond the bounds of my desert: and Marcellus feiendship I knowe is firme, and that I might I am sure, repose my Life, with assured confidence on these firme foundations, yet I feare mee, that some misfortune or others will still crosse our content: and againe, when wee thinke our selues in most security, turne our happinesse into Aduersitie: that I knowe not well what course to vndertake that may agrée with your liking, and giue me a∣ny assurance of quiet.

Angelica perceiuing that many cares opprest his heart, in re∣gard of her Welfare, and séeing with what affection he tendered her quiet, shee made this answere. My beloued Lorde, how infortunate may I account my selfe in this, that my misfortune procureth you so much disquiet? I beséeche you rest in assured confidence of my con∣stancie, that shall continue inuiolable for euer, being subiect to so ma∣nie misaduentures, that I haue both procured mine owne, and your most miserable torments: being of the minde that you are, that this Countrey will neuer yéelde vs securitie: Therefore if you can aduise mée to take any other course with you, which may giue vs any assu∣rance of rest, bee assured, that notwithstanding to attempt the same, might incurre thousands of inconueniences, I will most willingly vndertake the same, and with more constancie then you can impose vpon mee; Therefore I beseech you, counsell me of any course that shal agrée with your fancie, and that, and nothing else shal please me, for I commit my selfe wholly to your disposition: And therefore as you determine of your selfe, so determine of me, for I account my selfe no other then your selfe. Parismenos made her this answere: Then Ladie, I thinke it best we forsake this Countrey quite, and beginne to take our iourney towards Bohemia, where I dare assure both you and my selfe of quiet and rest.

I am (quoth Angelica) whollie to bee directed by you, and my desire is no lesse then yours, to attaine that heauenly place: For I

account both parents friends and countrie, as nothing, in respect of the loue and dutie I beare to you.

After these speeches past, Iconius was returned from burying Irus, whose minde Parismenos felt in these speeches. Now is the time, that the Princesse Angelica and my selfe must make tryall of your friendship: which is, your consent and company to a matter of importance, for our departure out of this place.

My Lord (said Iconius, whatsoeuer it be to pleasure you and the Princesse, if it lie in my power to further the same, I vowe and protest to vse my vttermost indeuour therein. Then this it is (quoth he) Angelica and my selfe are agreed to leaue this countrey, and not to returne to Ephesus, for diuers occasions that I will here∣after make you acquainted withall: but to trauell towards Bo∣hemia, and afterwards giue Marcellus knowledge of our safetie: therefore I aske your counsell of the best course to be taken for our furtherance herein.

My Lord (replyed Iconius) to vndertake the trauell by land, would be ouer tedious and daungerous, by reason of the long space betwixt this and Germanie, and the many rude and Sauage Wil∣dernesses we must passe by: therefore, I thinke the best course is, to get shipping, which may land vs somewhat nearer the countrey, and then our iourney by land shall be the lesse. And to that effect, I haue this to further vs: Certaine Marchants of I•…•…allie haue continuall traffique in this countrey, with whome wée may get passage thither, and being there, our desire is more easie to bee obtained: and the place where those Italian Sippes doe lay at Roade, is not farre hence, but that with a little labour wée may bring the Princesse thither. I like your counsell most exceedingly well (quoth Paris∣meno,) but howe shall wee come to haue conferrence with those Italians.

My Lord (said hée) let that be my charge, and so please you, I will depart to put the same in execution presently, and you in the meane time may remaine with the Princesse, and be assured of my fidelitie, for heauens graunt my ouerthrow, if I deale not faithfullie: with that he departed, and Parismenos returned to Angelica, spen∣ding the time with her in great content, vntill Iconius returne.

Earely the next morning, Iconius returned to the Desart, and certified Parismenos of that which hée had done, which was this: There was then in the harbor, a ship of Italie, that was readie to de∣part towards that Countrey, vnder the gouernment of Theoretus, an Italian Marchant, with whom Iconius had agéed for their pas∣sage, not telling him what they were that should goe with him, and withall, promised him to returne that forenoone, or not at all. Paris∣menos hearing his spéeches, was excéedingly glad thereof, and present∣ly made Angelica acquainted therewith, who most willingly gaue her consent: and presently they departed towards the Hauen, being in all but eight persons. And comming to the ship, they were kindly receiued of Theoretus the Maister. Who hauing sped his voiage, and hauing no other thing to stay for, the winde seruing, hoysed sayle, and with a merry gale, they launched into the déepe. Paris∣menos comming to Theoretus, demaunded which was the nearest course for Germanie, for that he was bound thither? Sir (quoth he) if it so please you, after I haue landed in Italie, and dispatched some businesse I haue there importance, I will be then ready to conuey you to the nearest Hauen that lieth towards these parts, so that you will content me for my voiage,

My friend (quoth Parismenos) if thou wilt do me this friendship, I will content thée to the vttermost of thy demaund. Then hée re∣turned to the place where Angelica was, comforting her with assu∣red trust of a happie and spéedie voiage.

Many daies they continued on their course with prosperous successe, till Teoretus assured them hée was within two daies Sai∣ling of Italie, where accordingly he arriued, where Parismenos and Angelica refreshed themselues, vntill Theoretus had ended all his businesse, and was growing to a composition with Parismenos. It fortuned that there was then in the place where they arriued, a Knight of Slauonia, named Arenus, who had secretly beheld An∣gelicas beawtie, and was so surprised therewith, that he beganne to deuise what meanes to vse to possesse her, and hearing that they were bound for Germanie, and supposing Parismenos had béene her husband, hée vsed the more expedition, his dsire béeing growne to that extremitie, in the small time of their abode, that he thought it

impossible for him to liue without the fruition thereof. And often∣times growing into conference with Theoretus, hée vnderstood the trueth of all by his report. And Arenus finding some hope to bring him to condiscend to his practise, vpon a time hée begaune to commune with him, and in the end concluded with him for a summe of money, to conuey them for him into what place hée would. With whom Arenus dealt so couningly and so strictly, that he bound him by many oathes to performe the same: which hée for greedinesse of the summe of money, was most resolutely determined to doo.

Now the time of departure being come, Theoretus (with a dissembling countenance colouring his intended villanie) came to Pa∣rismenos, and tolde him that his businesse was now ended, and the winde fitly serued for their departure.

Parismenos béeing glad thereof, and hauing before agréed with him for the price of his passage, brought the Princesse a•…•…rd with Iconius and the rest, where they found Arenus, whom Theoretus told, he was one y^t was likewise trauelling vnto some part of Ger∣manie. Parismenos little suspecting their drift, accepted of his com∣pany, and vsed him kindly. Arenus put on such an outward shew of vertue, and framed himselfe to such a kinde of behauiour, that Pa∣rismenos grew into great good liking of him, and into such familia∣ritie that he tolde him what he was.

Arenus hearing that he was sonne to Parismus, then grewe into protestations of reuerence and duty that hée bare to him, and into many such other like vowes of dutifull regard, that Parisme∣nos related to him the whole summe of his estato, and what the La∣dy Angelica was.

And some two daies they past in this sort: Parismenos and Angelica with a ioyfull heart going towards their miserie, and no∣thing misdoubting Theoretus treacherie, thought themselues say∣ling toward Germany, when indeede they were a quite contrary way. When suddenly an excéeding tempest arose, and the windes began to blow and rage exceeedingly, the raine began to fall in such a∣bundance, that the shippe was readie to be drenched with the same. Which cruell Tempest continued for the space of two dayes and two nights, in that most raging and extreame sort, that there wax none

but expected present destruction: then began Parismenos to curse himselfe, for leauing the country of Natolia: and committing him∣selfe to the mercy of the seas, of whose fury he had before tasted. An∣gelica was in great feare of her life: Theoretus conscience began to accuse him of villanie: and Arenus to repent his treacherie: & whilest they were in this extremitie of feare, the ship where in they were, was by violence driuen vpon a Rock, and there split in sunder, that they were all driuen to shift for their liues. Parismenos being amazed with this misfortune, yet had an especiall regard to the Princesse, whom he caught in his armes, ••nd with her gate on to a piece of the ship, y^t with the violence of the sea, was parted from the rest, which was not likely long to support them. And the rest, some drowned, and some by other admirable meanes preserued. When presently the storme began to cease, and the sea suddenly grew calme, It chan∣ced, that a Fisherman was not farre off in harbor, who beheld this shipwracke: and with all spéed, séeing the storme ceased, hasted with his boat thitherwards: and first came to Parismenos and Ange∣lica, who euen then were readie to perish: for Angelica affrighted with the terror of death, being with feare and weakenesse not able to support her selfe on the péece of the broken shippe, was fallen off, whom Parismenos had held vp by her garments, being with euery little motion himselfe readie to ouerturne, and so to perish togither: to whom the Fisherman approached, and by the diuine prouidence came at that instant to preserue their harmelesse liues, and tooke them both into his Boate, and at Parismenos request, hasted to saue as ma∣ny as he could possible of the rest. When presently Parismenos e∣spied Anna tumbling vp from vnder the water, whom by good for∣tune hée caught hold of, and drew vp to him: who by that shée had auoided abundance of water out of her mouth, beganne to reuiue: by this time, the Fisherman had gotten in Iconius and Theore∣tus, both of them being in great daunger of death, or in a manner dead, but all the rest were quite drenched, and neither they nor any part of the shippe, to be séene: presently the Fisherman con∣ueyed them to the shore, not farre from which place, was his house, whither likewise, after they had all recouered their sences, he brought them.

Parismenos glad of the fortunate escape, and séeing in what weake estate the Princesse was, desired the olde Fisherman and his wise, to do their vttermost to succour them in that distresse: and hauing a speciall regard of Angelica, hee with the olde woman named Do∣rella, disrobed her of her wet ornaments, and the olde woman put her on drie Linuen, the best she had, and got her into a warme bed, which greatlie reuiued her abated sences. Dorella likewise had the like care of Anna, being of such a good and vertuous disposition, that of her owne pittifull inclination, shee would haue hazarded her life to succor them. Iconius by this time was perfectly come to his sences, but Theoretus still remained in great hazard of death.