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. VIII^.

How Parismus in Palmers weedes found meanes to see the Princesse, vnto whom he would not discouer himselfe, hea∣ring of Donisius absence, and what befell to Dionisius in Bohemia.

AFter that Parismus had well recouered himselfe, being able to walke vppe and downe, hee was desirous to heare some newes from Dionisius Court, but coulde not deuise how to bring the same to effect: but thus fortunately it fell out, those out∣lawes were so farre in loue with him, that they with one consent intreated him, that hée would vouchsafe to continue among them, and be their captaine, for that they were without a guide, and thought so well of him, as that aboue all men they were desirous he would bée the man, which hée beganne to refuse, alleaging, that hée being a stranger in that countrey, and vnacquainted with their customes, was altogether vnfit, vsing many rea∣sons, as excuses: but considering with himselfe, that it might much auaile him to his purpose, at their intreaties was contented, and so behaued himselfe, that within a very short time, his worde and counsaile was an Oracle amongest them, and by his wisedome hée kept them from dooing much harme, and yet seemed in their fancie to further them greatly.

Oftentimes hée was in mind to go & make himselfe knowne at the court, and so enioy his mistresse sight, which grieued him to want, but being diuersly minded, at last this was his reso∣lution: he fitted himselfe on a day in Palmers wéedes, and dis∣guised himselfe so artificially, that (by hi•…•… disguise and long sicknesse, which had somewhat altered his complextion) none could any way know him: telling the Out-lawes that he was determined to sée the Court, which he had heard was so fa∣mous, and that he would returne at night.

When hée was somewhat néere the Cittie, hée might sée vppon a plaine hard by, great preparation for war, which made him much maruaile, at last comming to the Kings Pallace, he got himselfe vnto the place where Laurana euery morning vsually at her comming from Chappell, gaue her almes, and put himselfe amongst the rest of the Palmers, and being taller then any of them, he was much noted of many: when the prin∣cesse came to giue her almes, (being in mourning attire) shée called them all vnto her, and beganne to demaund of whence they were, what Countries they had trauailed, and whether they had heard any newes of Dionisius the King, who was missing: or whether they heard any in their trauaile, speake of the dead bodie of the Prince, which by chance might be found, being murthered by Sicanus of Persia: which wordes she vtte∣red with such sorrow, that the teares ran abundantly downe her chéekes.

Parismus being rauished with the sight of his precious Ie∣well, and séeing her wéeping for his losse, and withall hearing from her mouth that heanie newes of Dionisius want, could not (though he striued to the vttermost of his power) refraine from letting fall a few teares, which Laurana perceiuing, and viewing him withall, began to feele a suddaine alteration in all her parts, that shee was not in quiet till she had found meanes to commune with him: and giuing all the rest their almes, they departed, but to him she would giue nothing, to the intent hee should stay: but hee seeing the rest gone, was departing with

them, till Leda (being by her Mistresse commaunded) called him backe, whom hee very well knewe, and being returned, Laurana demaunded of him what was the cause that he wept when hee heard her speake of Dionisius losse, and Parismus death.

Parismus, sayde: Most vertuous Ladie, I wept not to heare Parismus named, but to heare of Dionisius losse, for Parismus I knowe is at this present liuing, and in good estate of health, with whom I had some talke within these three weekes, in the Countrey of Salmatia: which was the cause of my comming hither, being sent by him vnto a Ladie in this Court, whom I know not how to speake withall, nor will not name to any.

Laurana hearing the Palmers words, blushed exceeding∣ly, and withall, intreated him to tell out his newes, for that it might be, she was the partie Lord Parismus meant: for I am Laurana quoth she, whom Parismus did thinke well of, with that she wept againe.

Parismus knéeling downe saide, then to your Highnesse I will do my message, for vnto you I was sent. Lord Parismus, growing into some good liking of me, and hauing receiued my oath to be his faithfull messenger: willed me to giue your high∣nesse this Iewel, whereby you should be assured he was liuing, but constrained to absent himselfe, for causes that hereafter hée will let you vnderstand, hée desired you to let him (though vn∣worthy) enioy but the least of your vertuous promises, and he shal euer hereafter account himselfe to haue receiued his life and libertie from you.

Laurana séeing the Iewell which shée well knewe to bée the same shée had before giuen him, and hearing the Palmer credible report, that hée was in perfect health, and beeing fully assured of the truth of that message, by the certaine and firme protestation of the most Noble Paris∣mus himselfe, in the disguise of a Palmer: shee was so

surprised with ioy, that she could not refraine from kissing the iewell, saying welcome swéete token from a faithfull friend: and calling Leda vnto her, told her the newes the Palmer had brought, reioycing with such vertuous kindnesse, that Paris∣mus thought himselfe the happpyest man liuing to enioy the loue of so vertuous a Lady. Laurana comming to him, tolde him, that she was so much bound vnto him for bringing her those happie newes, that she did not know which way suffici∣ently to recompence him for his paines: and were it not (quoth shée) but that I stand in some doubt hereof (as being too good to be true) I should rest in such happy content by thy newes, that no aduersitie whatsoeuer should cause my sorrow, but one∣ly his absence, though my fathers losse doth neeerely concerne my happinesse. The Palmer vsed such pro•…•… stations, that Laurana could not chuse but beléeue him, as also by reason of the Iewel which she knew she had giuen Parismus. So taking a Iewell from forth her bosome, she gaue the same to him, which he willingly receiued, and kissing her hand departed. When he was out of sight, hée began to meditate of the ver∣tues of Laurana, and therein tooke such felicitie, that before he was aware hée met with Oristus, who had bene walking soli∣tarily abrode, in such heauinesse, that it would haue caused a∣ny to pittie him. Parismus séeing him, was in minde to haue re∣uealed himselfe vnto him onely: but being passed by him, hée could not chuse but turne and looke after him, his minde was touched with such kindnesse: but the remembrance of Dioni∣sius losse did so much grieue him, that wasting the time with those thoughts, vnawares in a heauie dumpe, hee was suddenly arriued at the Caue, where hee was kindly wel∣commed of the Out-lawes, who vsed such commendation of the Court, as it liked them to heare, and tolde vnto them how the king was missing, and no man could tell what was become of him, and that he thought there was some prepara∣tion for warres by the mustring of souldiers that he saw before the Citie.

When he was alone, he beganne to condemne himselfe of hard heartednesse, that seeing the most vertuous Lady liuing to mourne for his losse, yet he being safe and in her sight, would not make himselfe knowne to her, thereby to rid her from her griefe: but yet his comfort was great on the other side, that he sawe her loue so firme, being past all hope of euer seeing him againe, that hee accounted himselfe farre vnworthy the fauour she shewed him, growing so farre in admiration of her constan∣cie, that no thought was pleasant, but the remembrance of her loue.

Dionisius as before is saide, hauing met with many of his Knightes that went in search of him, was almost through re∣membrance of the sorrow he knew would arise by his absence, altered from his former determination, yet remembring Paris∣mus murther, which he knew could not chuse but come to the knowledge of his old friend the King of Bohemia, whereby his honour might be called in question (of which he was iealous) he therefore resolutely determined to trauel thither, and hauing iourneyed many dayes, he arriued in Bohemia, where lighting into company with anancient Palmer of that Countrey, he enquired of him what were the newes at the Bohemians court? who taking Dionisius to be but a Palmer, tolde him that the newes was chiefely of the Prince Parismus, who being in the Court of Dionisius King of Thessaly, was there murthered, or by some other treason destroyed, but by whom, or how, it was not knowne: by meanes whereof there was such hea∣uy lamentation in that Countrey, and especially in the Court, that he thought the like had neuer bene heard of in any place. Which report caused Dionisius to greeue excéedingly, and was so much tormented in minde, that hee resoulued there to bide vnknowne to any, vntill he sawe how the King of Bohe∣mia would digest this griefe, and also to heare the generall re∣port would be giuen of him, for that he did not reuenge the death of the Prince on Sicanus, when he had him in Thessaly: as also to sée the entent of these stratagems: hauing good store of

money and Iewels, he gate him a lodging in an auncient Bur∣gomaisters house, where for his money hée was kindly vsed. His wanted costome was, euery day to goe to the Kings house, where he heard nothing to comfort him withall, but sawe the King his olde friend in most heauy plight for his sonnes death, all the ioy hée had, was that he heard all men notwithstanding the death of their Prince, report very honourably of him, that hée continued (as hée thought) secure, being not knowne, or of any suspected, to be the man hee was, but at the last, thus con∣trarily it happened. The Burgomaster hauing diligently mar∣ked the behauiour of his guest, found him farre differing from all other Palmers, in person and quallities, and besides, séeing the dayly charge hée was at, began to suspect him, hauing such store of coyne to maintaine that charge, that when Dionisius went to his lodging, hee would listen at his Chamber doore, to heare his spéeches, and marke his behauiour, where he often∣times heard Dionisius bewayling his estate in most heauie plaints, naming himselfe, and oftentimes naming Parismus, and on a time declared the same to a Noble man of the Kings Court: who comming secretly to the Burgomaisters house, and hauing marked the Palmers behauiour, did suspect him to be some spye, apprehended him, and caused him to be cast in prison without any examination: which made Dionisius to wonder, fearing lest he should be known, but yet he thought th•…•…t could not be, therefore with patience he endured this imprison∣ment: where hée continued in the most vildest place amongst roagues and rascals, being exempt from the cleare light of the Sunne to comfort him withall, by the space of some sixe daies, by reason that the noble man which laide him there, was gone about affairs of his owne, but at his returne, he certified the King of such a suspicious person that he had found. Wherefore Dionisius was sent for, who being examined, told the king, that the occasion of his comming into that Countrey, was to no ill intent, but if it liked him to heare him priuately, he would de∣clare vnto him the whole intent of his comming. The King

hearing his spéeches, commaunded all to depart, wherevppon Dionisius disclosed himselfe. The King of Bohemia knowing him, being amazed at his straunge disguise, suddenly caught him in his armes and embraced him with great kindnesse. Dio∣nisius discouered vnto him the heauie l•…•…sse of Parismus, and his owne sudden departure out of Thessalie, requesting him that he would ioyne with him aganst Sicanus, to reuenge the death of so noble a Prince: which the Bohemian King most willingly yéelded vnto: so with many other spéeches that passed betwixt them, let vs leaue Dionisius to be entertained by the King of Bohemia.