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, Sonne and Heyre to the King of Bohe∣mia, arriued in Thessaly, how hee was entertained by Dionisius the King, who kept his Court at the Citie of Thebes, and of a straunge aduenture that befell to O∣siris, one of Dionisius Knights.

IN the most rich and famous Countrey of Thessaly, raigned one Dionisius, whose discretion in gouernment, and singular wisedome in ruling so mightie a Nation, made the splendant fame of his renowne to spread it selfe to the vttermost confines of the world: and most Countries made continuall traffique thither, by reason of

the good and equitable lawes hée had instituted for the quiet of his Countrey. Among the rest of his externall blessings, where∣of hée enioyed abundance, his Court was much renowned by the exceeding beautie, and vertuous gifts of Oliuia his Quéene, by whome hee had one onely daughter named Laurana, whose beautie so farre excelled all other Ladies, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was esteemed (in those partes of the world) the onely Paragone for beautie, asides, the vertuous qualities, and precious giftes of nature, wherewith her minde was abundantly adorned, did so much extoll her high commendations, that many Princes of farre Countries, did trauell thither to attaine her leue. In so much that by continuall accesse of many strange Knights, the Court of Dionisius daily increased in dignitie, who gaue most couete∣ous entertainment to all, as fitted to their honour, and accor∣ded with his most bountuous wisedome. Amongst the rest of the Knightes that came to be eye-witnesses of the beautie of Laurana, it fortuned the yong Prince, Parismus, Sonne and heire to the King of Bohemia, to arriue in the confines of Thes∣saly, being accompanied with diuers Nobles of his Fathers Court. Who hauing before heard of the fame of Dionisius, the courteous entertainment hee gaue to strangers, and the ex∣ceeding beautie of his daughter Laurana, determined to tra∣uell either to trie his fortune to winne her loue, as also to be partaker of his bountie, being thereto drawne by a vertuous inclination to imitate his honourable examples. And calling to him one of his Knightes named Oristus, willed him to goe to Dionisius Court, and signifie vnto his Maiestie, that hée was desirous to visit him, if it please him to accept him as a guest.

Oristus making spéede, soone arriued at the Cittie of Thebes, where the King then kept his Court, and being admitted his presence, deliuered his message. Which when Dionisius vnder∣stood, he told Oristus that he would very wilingly gratulate the Princes kindnes, desiring him to certifie his Lord, that he shuld be most hartily welcome, wherewith Oristus departed.

Dionisius willing his Noble men to be in readines the next day, for hée purposed to méete the Prince himselfe. In the meane time hée commaunded all preparation that might bée deuised to be made, for his more honorable entertainement. Early the next morning, Dionisius attended by his noble men, rode forth to méete the Prince, some thrée miles from the Ci∣tie, whome he most louingly imbraced, and welcommed with excéeding courtesie.

Parismus maruelling at this vnexpected kindnesse in him, said: Most high and magnificent King, I being altogether vnworthy of this your excéeding fauour, most humbly intreate your pardon to my presumption, desiring you to impute my rashnesse to my youth, which hath attempted this boldnesse, without any hope in the least degrée how to deserue such kind∣nesse.

Dionisius taking him by the hand, desired him to leaue off those spéeches, for that hée estéemed his Court and Countrey insufficent to entertaine him according as hée desired, telling him that hée was the most welcome guest to his Court, that might be: wherewith they ioyfully departed towardes the Cittie, but as they roade, they heard a most gréeuous grone in the Thicket of a Woode hard by. Whereupon Dionisius commaunded his Knightes to beset the Wood on euery side, himselfe, Parismus, and diuers Noble men, entered the Thic∣ket, where they found an Armed Knight most grieuously wounded: At which pittifull spectacle, Dionisius alighted from his Horse, viewed his face, and knew him to be his trustie Knight Osiris, whome hée most dearely loued. Wherefore hée commaunded him to bee conueyed to the Court, that his owne Phisitians might looke to him, and binde vp his wounds.

In the meane time the King, Parismus, and diuers Knightes, made diligent searche in the wood, but coulde finde no creature there, and thereby no certaintie how Osiris should be thus wounded. That departing discontented, the

King was certified that there was great hope of his recouery, who speaking to Parismus, said; Most noble Prince, I hope this mischaunce hath not disquieted you, for I would be sorie you should conceiue any occasion of sadnesse thereat, but I trust by that time Osiris be recouered, wée shall easily come to the knowledge hereof.

My Lord, replied Parismus, I haue no cause to be gréeued for my part, but to see your Maiestie hereby disquieted. Indéed said Dionisius, it some what gréeueth me, because Osiris is one that I loue, being well worthy thereof, for his vertues do farre excéed many mens, of whose faith and fidelitie I haue had suf∣ficient triall, that a more loyall Knight cannot be found. By this time they were come to the Pallace gate, where was the Quéene with all her traine of Ladies, to welcome Paris∣mus, which was a most pleasing sight to beholde, that the Prince with the suddaine viewe of theyr beautie, was dri∣uen into a déepe studie, from which hée was reuiued by the Quéene, who most gratiously welcommed him, saying: In all kindnesse, I bid your honour welcome into Thessaly, where we will indeuour to requite your friendship in com∣ming to vs.

Most vertuous Quéene (quoth hée) for this your honou∣rable fauour, both my selfe and all that is mine, shall be con∣tinually bound to do you dutifull seruice. The glory of the Pallace made Parismus maruaile, this honourable enter∣tainment, the sumptuous banquets, the rare Musick, and gal∣lant showes, too tedious to rehearse, made him thinke that Fame had altogether darkened the glory of that place, that all his sences were replenisht with varietie of delight.

At such time as Dionisius, and the Prince, entered the Court, Laurana, hearing of the Princes comming, standing at her Chamber windowe, viewed them well, and knew, or at least thought that to be Parismus, that came with her father, noting well his gallant & comely proportion, said to one of her maides named Leda, Is not yonder Knight that accompaineth my

father, the Prince of Bohemia? Yes (quoth Leda) I thinke so, for a more gallant Knight did I neuer beholde. Wherewith the crimzin colour in Lauranaes cheeke began to reuiue: which Leda perceiuing, said, it would become our Cou•…•… wel, to haue his presence continually, for it cannot chuse but a Knight of so faire prrportion, must needs be endued with as excellent gifts. Why quoth Laurana, this Court cannot long containe such guests: wherewithall she went to dinner, féeling a kinde of al∣teration in al her parts, which séemed strange to her, for euen then loue began to kindle in her tender heart, which yet shee did not well vnderstand, but afterwards grewe to a burning heate, as shall be declared. She vsed sildome to come abro•…•…d, but sometimes priuately for recreation, for such was her chaste resolue, that she delighted in nothing but vertuous meditati∣ons.

To relate the conference the King and Parismus had, were tedious, and imperitinent to the Historie. But the Prince mar∣uailed he could not sée Laurana, so famous for her beautie, being hereby drawne into many déepe cogitations, by which thoughts, and remembrance of the long iourny hée had passed, onely to be∣hold her person, and now could not be assures h•…•…e had seene the beautie hée expected, was drawne into such a sad studie, that in a manner he neither heard what was spoken, nor cegarded where he was. At last reuiuing his sences that were dulled with pas∣sion, hée suddenly sighed, and smiling said (fearing his heaui∣nesse had bene noted) your Maiestie may peraduenture note my sadnesse: the remembrance of your Knights iniury, maketh me study how he should be so gréeuously wounded, and no man found that should act the same (which words hée onely spake to excuse himselfe.

Surely answered the King, some man by secret treachery hath wrought him that harme, which at more conuenient time we shall finde the truth thereof, which I would effect with all spéed, but that I hope to be ascertained by himselfe, whom my Physitions say is in good estate of amendment. With these and

many other spéeches. Dinner being fully ended, Dionisius, Parismus, and the Quéene, walked into a most pleasant Garden, where after a while he was entertained with a most costly and rare banquet, prouided in an Arbour or banqueting House, adioyning to a Groue fraught with many pleasant Birds, whose swéete har∣monie much augmented the pleasure of the place, all things being most artificially contriued for delight, which when Parismus be∣held, hee then began to thinke with himselfe, how shall I sée the Princesse Laurana, for whose sight I haue vndertaken this trauell, whose delightfull presence shall refresh my tired sences, and expell those inward cares wherewith I am thus perplexed. But when he sawe none but the King and Quéene, hée was much troubled in his minde, to thinke what might be the cause, that thée whose fame had long since come to his knowledge, was not to be séene, that by constrained mirth, hée past away the time in such Banquet∣ting and other pastime, as the King entertained him withal, which were such, as he much wondred at. And night being come, with all statelinesse that might be, hée was by them conducted to his Lodging, which was most sumptuously adorned with most pre∣cious and rich hangings, that the place séemed a new Paradice, for there wanted nothing that might either delight the eare or eye. Lodgings for his Noblemen, Knights and seruants, were placed in such manner, that they séemed by their scituation to be gardi∣ants to their Lords person: hauing then taken his leaue of the King and Quéene, he betooke himselfe to his rest.