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. XXIIII.

How Parismus and Pollipus departed frō the Desolate Iland, in a ship of Hungaria: And how they were endaungered by Pirates belonging to Andramart, by whose meanes they wonne the narrow passage into the Iland of Rocks.

PArismus and Pollipus continued manie daies in the Desolate Iland, expecting the happie arriuall of some ship, wherein they might haue passage to go further in search of Laurana, for whose absēce they indured much sorrowe. At length it chanced, that a marchants ship of Hungaria, passed by this desolate Iland, which they wel knew and shunned for the danngerous report they had heard therof. Comming against the Cittie where the King lay, the mariners aboue hatches had sight of flagges that were spread vpon the toppe of the Castle & signified the same vnto their chiefetaine, whose name, was Barzillus, who hearing their report, woon∣dred what might be the cause, and being desirous to knowe the certaintie, made thitherwardes, where hee durst not

bring his ship to shore, but taking his cockboate himselfe, with such as rowed him, landed at the Castle: which such as atten∣ded the same, espying, came and saluted Barzillus, certifying him, that he neede not now feare the furie of Bellona, for that there were two Knights in the cittie that had destroied the Ca∣stle, and fréed their, King and Quéene out of thraldome, who would be very ioyfull to heare that any passengers were lāded, Barzillus hearing their report, without feare (beleeuing theyr spéeches went with them vnto the court, which was but small, yet there he was most kinely welcōmed by the King & Queen, but especially by Parismus and Pollipus, who enquired of him, of whence he was. He certified them he belonged vnto the king of Hungaria, his name Barzillus, and that seeing the flagge of truce, he came to see what aduenture had happened in that de∣solate Iland. Friend (quoth Parismus, youe comming hither may greatly preasure my selfe & this worthy knight, my friend Pollipus of Phrigia, by whose prowesse this Iland was redu∣ced to his former happie estate. Barzillus hearing him name Pollipus, suspected him presently to be the famous Prince Pa∣rismus of Bohemia, of whose losse at Sea, hee had heard ma∣ny reports by diuers ships he had mette both of Thessalie, and Bohemia, that were gone in search of them and therefore with great reuerence hee vttered these speeches. Most curteous Knight, I haue in my trauaile often times heard of that woor∣thy Knights name, and also of the famous Prince of Bohemia, by many Knights that are in search of them, whome I suppose your selfe to bee, and therefore accounte my selfe, the happiest man aliue, to bee an occasion to pleasure you in anie respect: therefore most worthy Knight, if my selfe, my men, or shippe, may any way doe you seruice, I heere most humbly offer them at your vertuous commaunde. Parismus kindely thanked him, assuring him that hée was the same whome hée had na∣med, and that a long time he had remained in that Iland, for want of shipping to go in searche of Laurana Daughter to the King of Thessaly whom they had lost: & that if he would shew

them that curtesie as to leaue his further trauaile for his Mar∣chandize, and accompanie him in his trauailes, he would make him such sufficient recompence, as he should neuer after neede to trauell to get wealth. arzillusB told him, that (notwithstand∣ding his Honourable proffer, he would haue all that was his at commaundement. So giuing him all the courteous enter∣tainment that might be, they soiourned still with olde Antio∣chus, vntill they had furnished themselues, with al things con∣uenient, and finding a fit time, (with all courtesie, taking there leaule of the Kinh and Queene, and Freneta, who tooke their de∣parture most heauilie, for that these Knightes were so grasious in their eyes, as they accounted the one parte of their soule de∣parted with them, hauing obtained a promise of them, to visite them, (when they found their wished friend,) hauing winde at will, they launched into the maine, not knowing which way to take their course, but commited themselues to the direction of their good or ill Fortune. They had not Sailed thrée dayes, but Barzillus gaue them to vnderstand, that they were neere the Prouince of Tartaria, where he tolde them it was daungerous trauelling: for those Seas were still frequented with Pyrates, and Robbes, whose words immediately they found true. For they had not Sayled the space of two houres, but they espyed a farre off, a ship making towards them amaine, whom Brazil∣lus presētly knew to be Pirates, and therfore vttered these spee∣ches. Most worthy Knights, now prepare your selues to resist the enemie approching vs, whom I knowe to be such as seeke the destruction of all passengers, (into whose handes if you fall, you may expect nothing but cruell tyrannie and hard vsage. By that time he had ended his speeches, the Pirates had laied thē aboorde, and began to enter their ship, but Parismus and Polli∣pus, hauing Armed themselues, with thier weapons drawne, demanded of them what they would haue? their Generall hea∣ring theyr speech, told them he would haue them yeelde. Yeelde (quoth Parismus,) that wee will, wherewith he strooke one of them so violently, that he cleft his head, Pollipus did the like to

another, who séeing thēselues so handled, assailed these champi∣ons with great fury, being a multitude in respect of their small company. But they resisted them with such valour, that y^e Pi∣rates were greatly discomfited, & a great nūber of them slaine: in which conflict, Pollipus (not regarding the perill he was in, nor the treachery the Pirates might vse) was gotten aboord the Pirates ship, & there made such hauock, that they disparing of victorie, hoysed their sayles, & before Pollipus could againe re∣couer his owne ship, were launched from the other a good way, which Parismus espying, desired Barzillus to make out after them. Pollipus séeing himselfe in that sort betrayed, laied about him with furie, that none durst come to neere him: at last, the Generall noting his valour, came vnto him w^t these spéeches, Knight (quoth he) yeeld thy sel•…•…e, and doo not he p•…•…worse mis∣chief vpō thy head, by procuring my further displeasure against thee, for if thou wilt aske mercie at my hands, I wil giue it thee, otherwise, know that I am of sufficencie to abate thy corrage, & bring thee in subiection, in despite of the best resistāce thou cāst make. Pirate (quoth Pollipus) I scorne thy proffered friend∣ship, and dare thee to vse y^e best skill thou canst to conquere me, for I am resolued to trie thy valor. Which words being ended, they assailed each with such fury, y^t it had bin a sight worth y^e beholding (if any had bin by,) to see the brauerie of their fight: but Pollipus assailed his enemie with such valour, that hee had mangled and cut his body in manie places, who being growne fainte with the effensiō of his blood, fell downe at his feete dead: which y^e mariners perceiuing, all at once assailed Pollipus, who so valiant withstood them, that they could little or nothing at all indamage him: One amongst the rest, offered him a thrust, which lighted on his lefte side, at the skyrtes of his Armour, which greeued him worse then all the woundes hée had recey∣ued, and so inraged him, that he chased them vppe and downe with such furious blowes, that manie of them in shunning his kéene sworde, tumbled ouer-boorde: manie of them were dis∣membred, and the rest seeing themselues vnable to withstand

his force, got themselues vnder Hatches, and Pollipus was left alone. Who seeing none to trouble him, and being sore woun∣ded and wearie, satte him downe, as well to rest himselfe, as to consider of the estate he was in.

Parismus hasted after the Pyrats shippe with all speade he might, but doo what Barzillus could, they had lost y^e sight ther∣of, which draue Parismus into such sorrowe as was strange, and poore Adonius seeing the Knight she deerely loued, fallen into such mishap, gate her selfe into a secret place in the shippe, and there vttered these plaintes.

How vnhappie am I, that haue caused the losse of so woor∣thy a Knight as my deere Pollipus is, who hath giuen himselfe to a carelesse desperatenesse for my losse, who am not worthie for my vnthankfulnesse to be esteemed of him. Now is he fallen into the handes of such as wil soone abridge his dayes, it is im∣possible for him to withstand the force of such a multitude, but fall into vtter ruine. O that my vnworthy selfe had bene in his companie, that I might haue taken part of the afflictions he is likely to endure, and haue comforted him in his distresse. Accur∣sed and vncurteous that I was, in so many fitte occasions as I had, that would neuer manifest my selfe vnto him, who conti∣nually sorrowed for my absence, neuermore shall I enioye his sweete Companie, neuer more shall I lie folded in his Manlie armes, the touche of whose embracings were more pleasant then all the ioyes I shall euer heerafter endure. What resteth now for me, but to spend the rest of my accursed dayes in con∣tinuall sorrow for his absence?

Hauing ended these speeches, she suddenly started vp, and with abundance of teares, came to the place wheras Parismus was who seeing the sorrowe hee made, exceedingly woondered whence such kinde loue and affection, and so many Uertues as he continually beheld in him, should proceede. By this time the night approched, and they still made forwards, till by the coun∣sell of Parismus they cast ancker, determining to stay there vn∣till the next morning. Pollipus likewise seeing the ship wherein

he was, sailed so fast from the companie of his friends, with his sworde cut asunder all the tackles and cordes, that the Sailes fel ouerboorde, and he all Night lay hulling vppon the Sea, the weather being very calme, determining the next morning to compell such as were remaning vnder Hatches, to conduct him backe to the other ship, whom he knew would not stray far from his companie. The morning being come, the ship was with the tide brought backe againe, that the mariners of Bar∣zillius ship, gat a sight thereof, with which newes they came to the Prince, who was accompained by Adonius his page, which newes so reuiued him, y^t presently he came vp, by which time they assuredly knew it was the pyrates ship and Pollipus séeing them, stood wauing his sword aboue his head in signe of victo∣rie, & being both met, Parismus with great ioy embraced him, commēding his valour: & poore Adonius stood by being affected with such inward ioy, as I altogether want the skil to expresse. When Pollipus declared vnto thē the maner of his victorie, and called vp such as were in the ship, who expecting nothing but death, were vnwilling to shew themselues, but at last came like men agast, being many of thē so greeuōusly woūded, y^t it pitied Parismus to see y^e estate they were in: he demaunded of them of whence they were, who tolde him y^t they had sworne not so re∣ueale the truth therof to any. But since it was so that they must needes, they began in this sort. We are seruants vnto Oswald, y^e General of our cōpany, whō this worthy knight hath slaine himselfe a seruant likewise vnto y^e migghtie Andramart, Go∣uernor of the Ile of rocks, so termed, for that y^e same is not to be entred, but one way, by reasō of y^e mightie Rocks that incōpasse the Iland. My master cōtinually brought vnto him such riches as he could get vpon y^e sea, & had you falne into his hands, thi∣ther would he haue conueied you as prisoners, frō whence you should neuer haue escaped, & we being subiects were compelled to take this kinde of life. In which we haue continued a long time, but being falē into your hands, we intreat you to saue our liues, whose deaths wil nothing at all profit you. The Prince

hearing this report, was wonderfully troubled in mind & begā to couiecture y^t the same pirats that had betrayed thē in the de∣solate Iland, & fled with his espoused Laurana, were likewise of Andramarts seruants. Which caused him to confer with Polli∣pus, whs waa troubled with the very same thought, and groun∣ding their hopes theron, they determined to make triall therof, but first they questioned with Oswaldes Seruants, to see if they could gather any comfortable report from them, who told them, that it was a great while since they were in the Iland, and therefore they could no way informe them thereof. But these noble Knights hearts were so reuiued with this report of Andramart, that they assuredly perswaded thēselues that they should heare some newes of Laurana, and with that determi∣nation they chose such of the Pyrates as were fittest for theyr gu•…•…es, & with all haste they could, hasted thitherwards, once a∣gaine committing their Fortune, to the mercy of the Seas. Not many dayes after, they by happy successe in teauell, were come néere the Iland of Rocks, the wished place of their expectation) then Parismus & Pollipus began to consult betwixt themselues for their best landing, for that it was assured them, that it was impossible to enter by force: for the passage was continuallie strongly guarded, and all things so artificially contriued, for the disaduantage of such as should attempt any thing, that it was altogether vaine to thinke that way to enter. These discom∣forts, draue them to the trial of their vttermost wits, for by the perswasion they had to finde Laurana there, they determined (though the attempt were neuer so dangerous) to make tryall thereof, or Parismus rather determined to be detained there as a prisoner, then to leaue any thing vnperformed, whereby he was put in any comfort of his long & wished expectation. Ther∣fore calling to thē such as were the seruants of Oswald, they told them that the conquest of that place wholly rested in their powers: therfore Parismus saide, if you will condiscend to fol∣low my direction herein, I do not doubt but easily to accōplish the same, and for your truth reward you so kindly, as you shall

no way néede to feare the furie of Andramart, who maketh no other account of you, but to keepe you as his vassalls & slaues, in bondage and cruell seruitude, whereas if you will be faithful and true vnto me, I will set you at libertie, and rewarde you, to your hearts content. For I my selfe am Gouernor of a coun∣trey farre excéeding this place, whither I will conduct you with mée, if I happily atchieue my desire herein, or if my determi∣nation faileth herein, you shall safely retire into our ships, and be acquitted from all feare of his reuenge.

The Pirates hearing the curteous spéeches of Parismus, hauing also in the time they had been in his company noted his Princely behauiour, and on the other side weighing the estate they remained in, being his prisoners, on whom hée might in∣flict a cruell punishment, if they should refuse to ayde him in the request he made, and also considering the little account Andra∣mart had alwaies made of them, and the crueltie hée vsed to them: All these considerations wrought such a change in the hearts of these poore slaues, that they fréely condisended to fol∣low his directions in any thing hée should demaund.

Parismus was gladde of their consent, but fearing to trust them, hée vttered these spéeches. Syrs, I thanke you for your willingnesse to pleasure mée, but pardon mée, though I make some question of your loyaltie, for that I haue been already de∣ceiued by men of your profession: and as I suppose, of Andra∣marts seruants, by whose vnfaithfulnesse, these miseries that wée are fallen into haue happened. Whereuppon hée tooke oc∣casion to report vnto them the treachery of the Pyrates in the desolate Iland, thereby to make vnfaithfulnesse séeme odious in their sights.

The Pyrates vowed with such confidence to bée true vnto them, that they were fully assured of their faith, and being now neare the place of their landing, admiring y^e wonderful strength of the same, thus they continued their stratageme. Parismus, Pollipus, and Barzillus (who would néedes accompanie them

armed themselues with the best armour they had, and putting on sea gownes (whereunder they had conueyed their swords so secretly, that none could discerne the same) were conducted as conquered by the Pyrats, vnto the passage into the Iland, and Adonius in their company (who by no means would leaue them.) Which the gardians perceiuing, and knowing Oswalds seruants, and thinking the rest to be prisoners, carelesly laid a∣side their weapons, nothing suspecting their intent, kindly wel∣comed their fellowes, and conducted them with ioy, past their places of resistance, which the knights perceiuing, suddenly seuered themselues, and with their weapons drawne, valiant∣lie laid about them, that they soone had slaine such as resisted them. The pyrats seeing this happy successe, went on with Pa∣rismus and Pollipus, towards Andramarts Castle, which when they had showne them, they desired (being terrified with feare of Andramarts cruelty) to returne vnto their ships, who laugh∣ing at their timorousnes, gaue them leaue to depart with Bar∣zillus, who vndertook to keepe the passage, that none might en∣ter to endamage them.