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. VII.

How Sicanus treason was discouered, who suddainly fled in∣to his Country, and how Diomsius departed towards Bohe∣mia, vnknown to any, in the disguise of a Palmer, and what sorrow Oliuia the Queene made for his absence: who cre∣ated Lord Remus Regent in the Kings absence.

WHilest these things were acting, it happe∣ned (contrary to Sicanus expectation, who now thought all things so buried in for∣getfulnesse, that his treachery could by no meanes be reuealed) that the Tarrrians which murthered Parismus, beganne to contend about the money Sicanus had giuen them, in so much, that one of them strooke the other such a blow on the head, that he had wel-néere slaine him, and would haue strucke him againe, but that by chance Oristus comming by, reprooued the other that had strooke his fellow, and defended him that was already woun∣ded from further harme: and diuers other of Dionisius knights comming together, they conueied him that was hurt into a Chamber, and the other was carried before the king, to be exa∣mined vpon what occasion hee did strike him: who answered Diomsius, that he would not be examined of any but his owne Prince, which made Dionisius the more earnest to know the cause: therefore willed Lord Remus to intreat Sicanus to come vnto him to end a doubt, which none but he could decide. Si∣canus maruelling what the cause should be, immediatly came, but seeing one of the Tartarians that he had hired to murther

Parismus, standing before the King, began to feare (according to the guiltinesse of his conscience) that his treason was be∣wraied: notwithstanding, he demanded why he had so woun∣ded his fellow: the villaine being amazed to see his master so ready to examine him, and not rather to excuse him, could not readily tell what to say, but in that little respit of deliberation, he answered, that he had done him wrong, & that was the cause he had strooke him: which words he vttered with great feare, staring vpon Sicanus (as if he should haue instructed him what to say.) Dionisius noting Sicanus countenance, & the villaines answer, whom Sicanus would examine no further, began to misdoubt some former mischiefe had bred this contention, com∣manded the other Tartarian that was wounded to be brought before him, who feeling himselfe almost past estate of life, con∣fest the cause why thy fell out, and how that they had the mo∣ney of Sicanus, for murthering Parismus, whose want was procured by their meanes. Sicanus standing by, and hearing his speech, suddenly drew his dagger and stabbed him, before he could vtter any more of his treachery. Which so amazed all the company, that a good space they knew not what to say: at last Oristus (being filled with fury) boldly stept to Sicanus, and challenged him as a villen & traitor, for conspiring his ma∣sters death, who being likewise moued with rage, strooke at Oristus, to haue stabbed him likewise: but he easily auoided the blow, and with his fist strooke him with such violence, that the blood ran aboundantly from his mouth, which his knights perceiuing, began to draw vpon Oristus, who had beene their flaine, but that many of Dionisius knights (deerely louing Pa∣rismus, and hearing the villaines cōsession) likewise drew, and assailed the Persian Knights, so fiercely, that many of them were wounded, and Sicanus himselfe had there died, had hee not fled. And notwithstanding Dinisius laboured all that hee could to pacifie this vprore, yet before he could doe it, three of Sicanus Knights were flaine, and the rest fled with their ma∣eer. After the tumult was appeased, Dionisius began to exa∣mine

the matter more narrowly, and found by all circumstan∣ces the Tartarian had said true. Sicanus with great hazard of his life, hauing escaped out of the Court, with some forty in his company, being ashamed (as knowing himselfe guil∣ty of the fact,) with all the haste that hee could, got to the harbour where his Shippe lay, and with all speede hoised saile, not once taking his leaue of the King, which was a suffient perswasion to all, that Parismus by his meanes was murthered, the remembrance whereof began their sorrow a fresh.

The King of Hungaria, and Prine of Sparta, beeing much ashamed of Sicanus behauiour, in whose company they came, desired Dionisius not to impute his impiety any way to their dishonour, for that they would foreuer abhorre him for that monstrous act, and rest ready to defend him, if euer he should stand in need of their aide, to reuenge this iniury: who de∣termined to stay still with Dionisius, if they could, to driue out of his minde the remembrance of this mischance. Dioni∣sius being most extreamely ouercome with rage, and griefe, be∣ganne to take the murther of Parismus with such sorrow, that he determined to spend the rest of his daies out of the com∣pany of all men, and the next morning (giuing delay no scope to hinder his purpose) hauing disguised himselfe that he could not bee knowne, in Palmers weedes, hee depar∣ted secretly from the Court: and first tooke his course to trauell into Bohemia, to heare whether Parismus Father had knowledge of the death of his sonne, or no. Dinner time being come, Dionisius was wanting, which made the Queene maruell, for that he was not wont to bee absent, but thinking hee was gone alone by himselfe to meditate, made no great enquiry: but after Dinner, going her selfe to seeke him, could by no meanes finde him, which made her make open enquiry, yet none could heare of him, that vpon the sudden there beganne such an vproare (when they had searched all the Place, Gardens, Orchardes, walkes, and

euery place) such acclamations, such lamentation, and such outcries, that all seemed comfortlesse, yea, rather madde and lunatike: some running this way, some that way, euery one carefully to doe his best, yet all to no effect, which both made the Quéene, the King of Hungaria, the Prince of Sparta, and all the rest, in that miserable estate of misdoubt, that they neither could tell what to doe, nor what to coniecture of his absence, seating least Sicanus had likewise by some villany, procured his death. Diuers Knights went in search of him, but could not finde him, and yet saw him, but knew him not: for they often met with him in Palmers dis∣guise, and asked him for himselfe, which made him oftentimes in minde to returne, but yet his former determination conti∣nued firme.

These newes of Sicanus departure, and of Dionisius want happened in two daies, yet neither of them was come to the knowledge of Laurana, who absented her selfe from all com∣pany, by reason of the extreame care shee endured for Paris∣mus: Sicanus treason, and Parismus murther was concealed from her by Leda, who loued her dearely, and therefore would not suffer it to come to her hearing: but contrary to Lauranaes thought, and Ledaes expectation, Oliuia the Quéene came to her lodging, wringing her hands, and making a great lamen∣tation, and espying her, said: O daughter, what shall betide vs? that villaine Sicanus hauing murthered Parismus, hath likewise destroyed thy Father. Laurana hearing her mothers speeches, stood as one amazed, not once sitting, speaking, or mouing hereie: at last thinking it was strange newes to bee true, said; déere mother, I trust these vnwelcome newes cannot be true, nor that your grace speaketh of proofe: whereupon the Quéene told her all that had happened to Parismus, by Sicanus procurement, wherewith Laurana (not beeing able to heare the rest that her Mother would haue vttered) im∣mediately fel downe amongst the Ladies dead, who indeauou∣red to recouer her, but were not able to bring her to life againe,

by the space of halfe an houre, which began a new sorrow a∣mongst them, shee seeming to be past all hope of recouery: all being tired with extreame griefe, gaue their mindes no respite to consider of the aduersity they were in, but stil continued ma∣king such lamentations, as the place seemed a desolate habita∣tion of sorrow. Laurana at length comming to her selfe, could not yet vtter a word, for the extreamity of care had such full possession in her heart, that she could neither ease it by lamen∣tation, nor teares, that all the whole company were constrai∣ned to employ their best endeauours to remedy this present euill, the last of there hope: for if shee had perished, the heire of Thessalie had beene lost. Lord Remus beeing a man of great wisdome and gouernment, began to weigh the fickle estate of the people and Countrey, who hauing beene a long time subiect vnto peace, therefore were not able to endure the brunt of warre, and that it was likely Sicanus would seeke to reuenge himselfe against them, and take, if he could, out of their hands the Princesse Laurana, heire apparant to the Crowne, and thereby get the kingdome into his possession, which the Thessalians could not endure: reuoluing these thoughts in his mind, he came to the Quéen, and the rest of the Nobles, and requested her and them together, to haue some re∣gard to their Countrey, and not to shew themselues vnproui∣ded to defend themselues from further mischiefe: whose coun∣sell all liked well, especially Oliuia, who with the consent of the rest of the Péeres, made him Lord Regent of the Country: vpon which charge committed to him, hee presently gaue or∣der for mustring of men, and fortifying of Castles, and places of defence, appointing Captaines and Gouernours, vnder whose charge hee committed those places of defence, and with∣in a short space brought all things to such perfection, that the Countrey was well fortifyed, and able to resist a great e∣nemie.

The Quéene being diuersly tormented in thought, now was (by returne of such as were gone in search of the King)

ascertained that he was no where within the bounds of Thes∣saly aliue, and therefore assuredly thought hee was dead, which so inwardly tormented her, that shee gaue her selfe onely to mourning, not giuing her minde one minutes respit of quiet, in which estate for a time we will leaue her.