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. XIIII.

How Parismus and Pollipus, and one of the Out-lawes, sent Dina the Virgin to the Court at Thebes with a message, and how they fought a battel against three of the Persians, ac∣cording to the peace concluded. And how Sicanus refused to performe the condition of the peaee, wherupon Paris∣mus vnknowne, challenged him the Combat.

THe night before the Combattants should meet, Parismus with counsell of Pollipus: atti∣red Dina the Uirgin like a Forrest nimph, in most rich apparell, and sent her vnto the Court of Dionisius with these Uerses writ∣ten.

In time of neede doe not defpaire, distressed wrong shall conquest haue: Though yet vnknowne, the Knight is by, that gainst thy foes doth combat craue. Treasons reward is open shame, the lost from death may be preserued: With patience beare thy crossed state, this Knights good will hath trust reserued.

The damsell being instructed of Parismus what shée should doe, made all haste vnto the Pallace, where she was no sooner come but she was conducted into the great Hall, where was Dionisius, Oliuia, the King of Bohemia, and the King of Hungaria, with his faire Quéene Armida, the Prince of Spar∣ta, and the Lady Isabella his sister, with a number of other Lords and gallant Ladies. Who beholding the damsell, mar∣uelled with what message shee came, who beeing before

the King, humbly reuerencing her selfe vpon her knee, tolde him, that shee had a message to deliuer vnto the Princesse Lau∣rana, who being sent for, the Damosell presented vnto her a scutchion, wherein was portrayted a Knight, wounded by thrée slaues, and a description how they couered his body as dead, with Mosse, and vnderneath, how the same knight was found by another Knight, and carried to a Caue, which was done in most exquisite manner. Laurana hauing a while vew∣ed the same, and red the verses written vnderneath, deliuered the same vnto the King: who hauing likewise read the verses, most kindely thanking the Damosell for her paines, referring the answere to his Daughter, who willed the damosell to signi∣fie vnto the Knight that sent her, that shee did most willingly accept him for her Champion, willing her to deliuer vnto him a rich imbroydered scareff, which she requested he would weare for her sake. The Damosoll hauing receiued her message, and rich reward, departed.

Assone as she was gone, all the Court was comforted by this Message, and prepared to attyre themselues in their stateliest robes the next day, the more to discourage the ene∣mie. This Damosell soone returned to Parismus, and deliue∣red the message Lauerana had sent him, and the scarffe which shee requested him to weare as her fauour, which hee kist, and rekist, because it came from the most vertuous Mistresse of his affection.

The next day, the Thessalian King, the King of Bohemia, the King of Hungaria, and the rest, seated themselues on the Scaffolde, likewise Oliuia the Queene, the Queene of Hungaria, and the beautifull Laurana, whose splendor so darkened the beautie of the rest, that shée ap∣peared like golden Scinthia, amongst the twinkling Starres, the crimson colour shining so fresh in her Christall chéekes, and as Claret wine and Milke mixte together, béeing so comely faire, so vertuous and chaste, so courteous and con∣stante, so milde and mercifull, as shée was no way to bee

equalled, and yet bearing a minde so farre from pryde, that shee disdained not the meanest person in Thessaly, whose Royall personage séemed an Ornament to all the whole as∣sembly. The King of Persia, the Natolan King, the King of Licia and Libia, were seated on the Scaffolde, and next vn∣der them the Persian contributories, which when the Thes∣salians behelde, they supposed one parte of the worlde was come to destroye them. The Persian Knightes came into the lists, the first béeing the valiant Zoylus, attyred all in redde, with most riche caparisons of beaten Golde, with a plume of redde feathers bespangled with Golde, nexte came the valiant Brandor, and Ramon, attired in most rich colours of blewe, nothing differing, because they were Bre∣thren, who gallantlie mannaged their Stéedes with such feature, that one would haue iudged thrée comelier Knights coulde not haue béene founde, and ranging thrée or foure times about the listes, but séeing no enemie approaching, they stared and gazed as if they thought scorne to stay the Thessalians comming: but stare, gaze, and stay they might, for the Thessalians Champions came not an houre after that, which draue Dionisius into such an agonie, that hee could haue torne his haire from his head, fearing least the message the Damosell brought, might bee deuised by the Persians to delude him withall, that hée and all the rest were driuen into such an extasie, that they sate like men amazed, not knowing howe or which way to saue themselues from dishonour. Laurana likewise, seeing her expectation crossed, and doubting nowe the worst, waxed fainte with inwarde griefe, and the liuelie redde beganne to fade out of her Chéekes, that shee had fallen from the place where shee satte, hadde shee not bene reuiued with a sudaine showt the people made, who espyed the thrée Champions come galloping a∣long the plaines, which so reuiued the rebated heartes of the Thessalians, that they seemed like men newely raised from death to life. The sodaine reioycing somewhat daunted

the Persians, because they were before per sixaded they shoul haue the conquest without battell, and also they feared least th Blacke knight might bee one of them that were the Combat tants.

By this time Parismus, Pollipus, and the Out-lawe were come to the Listes, their Armours being •…•…iluered all ouer, thrir Apparell, Plumes and Stéedesall white, their Staues, Capa∣risons, and Furnitures all alike, nothing differing in all their Ornaments, but that Parismus wore the Scarffe Lauarana had sent him, and Pollipus in his Crest a freshe branche of bloo∣med Palme, & hauing in most gallant manner marched twice or thrice about the Lists, they came backe to the Races ende, and there attended to knowe Dionisius pleasure.

Parismus still hauing his eyes seated on the Uertuous Lady Laurana, at last Dionisius came downe from the seate of State, and most kindely saluted him, telling them, since it was their pleasure so much to doe him honour, as to become his Combat∣tants, hée would (if it pleased God to graunt them the Uicto∣rie,) not be vnmindefull of their Courtisie, nor vngratefull for their paines.

No sooner was Dionisius Seated againe, but the Trumpet (according to the woonted manner,) beganne to summon these Champions to the battell. Parismus looking backe vppon Lau∣rana, (as if from thence hée had fetcht his being,) waued his Launce about his heade, and the Champions mette with such fury, that shiuering their Launces into a thousand péeces, they passed by without any harme at all, then drawing their swords Parismus encountred Zoylus, Pollipus Brandor, and the Out∣law Ramon, betweene whom began a most firce, terrible, and cruell battell, that in short space the Armours •…•…lue in peeces, and the blood ran down aboundantly on either party, in which most cruell fight they continued by the space of two houres, neither party seeming to yeeld. At last Parismus being inra∣ged at the valour of his enemy, and knowing that it was now

no time of daliance, because hee saw the Out-law beginne to faint, assailed the valiant Zoylus so fiercely, that hee could scarcely withstand his furie, and soone had died by the vn∣conquering arme of Parismus, but that the Out-law had re∣ceiued such a wound by the hand of Ramon, that he fell down dead vnder his horse, which somewhat refreshed Zoylus, for that Ramon taking the aduantage, also assailed Parismus, which draue him to his vttermost shifts. At last hee espied a péece of Armour broken from Ramons arme, in which place he gaue him such a wound, that he let his Horse raynes fall, and his S•…•…eede being at liberty beganne to wander disorderly about the lists. Zoylus in the meane time, being well refreshed with the aide of Ramon, strooke such a forcible blow at Paris∣mus, that it pierced his armour on his left arme, and lighted so full on his Thigh, that hée was grieuously wounded, which blow, turned Parismus senses into that extreame fury, that with all his force, striking with both his hands at Zoylus, hée •…•…mote him on the head with such furie, that he fell down from his horse: at which blow all the field showted, and Parismus swords burst.

During which time, the two other two Champions conti∣nued the Combat most brauely, & with much commendation, but greatly to the disaduantage of Brandor, who was a mighty strong, and bigge boned Knight, and strooke his blowes with such force, that had not Pollipus nimbly auoided them, he could not haue endured his fight. At last Pollipus hauing espied his aduantage, thrust at Brandor with such might, that the sword lighting full on a broken place of his armour, ranne quite tho∣row his body, and he fell downe starke dead: by which time, Ramon had recouered his senses, and séeing Parismus to haue vanquished Zoylus, assayled him (weaponlesse as he was) and wounded him in two or three places, but soone Parismus gotte within him, clasped him in his armes, & with maine force threw him forth of his saddle, & in the fall, burst his shoulder, whereof he died: wherwith the whole assembly gaue such another shout

that the earth séemed to shake with the voyces, presently the whole States on the Thessalian partie, conducted the Combat∣tans with all Solemnitie, vnto a most riche Pauillion, erected onely for the same purpose: where they were no sooner arriued, but Dionisius most louingly embraced them in his armes, and with infinite courtesies thanked them for their paines, de•…•…ring them to vnarme themselues, that his Physitions might search their woundes, which they refused to doe, vntill the conditions & couenants of the combat were performed by the King of Per∣sia, who hearing their iust request (could not in that honourable assemblie, so much dishonour himselfe, as to breake his worde) presently gaue order that all his Forces should be dismist. And also calling Sicanus vnto him, commaunded him vppon the▪ du∣tie and reuerence hée bare vnto him, to confesse the certainty in∣déede, whether hée or any by his procurement, had slaine Pa∣rismus. My Lord and Father (quoth he) by the reuerence I owe your Maiestie, and the rest of the Kings in this assemblie, I am constrained to refraine from vttering what I would, but vnder your honourable corrections, I denounce him for a vil∣laine and a Traytor that accuseth me for Parismus murther.

In the like reuerence, to this most honourable assemblie (quoth Parismus,) I returne that Uillaine and Traytor to thy selfe Sicanus: for y^t thou liest, for thou hyredst thrée of thy Tar∣tarians with promises of great preferment, who the same day that Parismus was missing, murthered him most treacherously in the Wood hereby, my selfe found his bodie, and héere I stand to prooue against thée, that like a Uillanie and a Traytor thou didst this déede: In whose behalfe, I dare thee to the Combat, and forasmuch as thou thinkest Parismus had no feiends for •…•…o to maintaine his iust quarell, I charge thée as thou art a knight and honourest Armes, not to refuse this Combat: which chal∣lenge Sicanus in a great rage excepted, & presently went to arme himself, thinking that he might easily be ouercome, for that he was alreadie grieuouslie wounded. Did what Dionisius, and the King of Bohemia could, Parismus stil demaunded the Com∣bat,

whose constancie and resolution they maruailed at, and the whole assembly were so desirous of his conquest, that with applaudes and commendations, they extolled his honourable resolution. Laurana seeing her Champion readie to vnder∣take a fresh battell, came to him, and with hartie thankes for his honourable paines taking in her behalfe, desired him to desist from the combat, for that it might much endaunger his person, Parismus lighting from his horse, reuerently kissed her hans, the very touch whereof, reuiued his spirits with ioye, and tolde her, that if it were her pleasure Parismus wrongs should go vnreuenged, he would soone desist: otherwise being vowed her poore Knight, he would either at that instant make Sicanus confesse his treason, or spend his latest breath in pur∣suite of that quarrell: and therefore hee most humbly craued her pardon.

Laurana with a curious eye marked him whilest that hée talked with her, and though he were much altered, and chan∣ged his voice as cuningly as might be, yet she déemed it like the voyce of her deare Parismus, which shée was the rather induced vnto, for that she sawe a Ring on his finger that she had before giuen to Parismus, which draue her into such an agonie betweene hope and dispaire, that had not her father and many others bene by, shee had there resolued her selfe of that doubt: wherewith, and with the sight of the blood that issued out of his woundes, shee endured such an inward af∣fliction and torment of minde, that her sences were ouer∣maistred with a pittifull regard of his estate. But presently came Sicanus mounted on his Courser, so Parismus humbly taking his leaue of Lauarana, mounted his stéede, and com∣ming toward Sicanus, beganne to vnbuckle his white ar∣mour, which was so artificially made, that it was but a case to his armour vnderneath, which was no sooner off, but hee was presently knowne to be the blacke knight that had fought so valiantly in the behalfe of Thessaly, and had slaine in se∣uerall Combats an incredible number of Persians, which

so daunted the hearts of the Persians, that they alotted him the conquest, before euer that he beganne the Combat.

The blacke Knight at the first encounter, burst two of the Combattants ribbes, and in short time, with forcible blowes, beate him from his Horse, and allighted to haue parted his head from his shoulders, but the King of Persia seeing his sonne in that perell, ranne to the place, and desired the blacke knight to spare his life, which hee obtained: and vnlacing his Helmet to giue him breath, found that it was not Sicanus, but another Knight that hee had hyred in his stéede, for that him∣selfe durst not meete so valiant a knight hand to hand: which Parismus séeing, in great rage would haue slaine him, but hee was disswaded by Pollipus. This cowardly Iest was so odi∣ous, that euer after Sicanus was accounted the most recreant knight liuing, but being of a shamelesse disposition, he nothing regarded the same.