THE FIRST PART OF PARISMVS 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 Dum spiro spero VERITAS VIRESSIT VVLNERE TC LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1615. AA TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Sir Robert Ratcliffe Knight Earle of Sussex Viscount Fitzwaters Lord Egremond and Burnell E. F. wisheth health honour and happinesse THe most mighty Monarch Alexander aswel beheld the crooked counterfetit of Vulcan as the sweete picture of Venus Philip of Macedon accepted a bunch of Grapes presented by a simple Countrey Swaine The Widowes mite was as graciously esteemed as the great gifts of the wealthie So I Right Honourable and my verie good Lord haue presumed to present your Honour with this Fancie intituled Honours Triumphe Imboldened thereunto by the viewe of those admired giftes of true Nobilitie that abundantly adorne your Vertuous inclination vouchsafe the acceptance of this poore present not for the worthinesse thereof but for the good intent of the writer who most humblie sueth for your fauorable protection to countenance the wel intending labours of a Scholler that hath dedicated himselfe in all dutifull regard to your Honors command with the poore Countrey-man presenting somwhat to shew my dutie afffection willing to giue a worthier gift if it consisted in my poore abilitie Apollâ—… giues Oracles as well to the poore as to the Rich. The Noblest mindes haue alwayes as well esteemed the intents of the well meaning as the performance of the best able Euen so I trust your Honour in whom the Essence of true Nobilitie and vertue are vnited wil vnder the Protection of your Wisedomes fauourable Censure regarde my dutifull meaning herein Which hath not bene satisfied with admiration but longtime desirous to bee one of the participants of your Honours most laudable dispositious whereunto I doe wholly submit my selfe Resting in hopefull assurance that notwithstanding whatsoeuer wanteth in mee or the workes worthinesse yet your Honour will daine to accept this small present or rather therein my good will which will yeeld to none in respect of dutifull douotion though vnable to compare with the least of the Learned writers that haue past their woorkes vnder the Title of your Honourable Patronage Which fauour I humbly desire your Honor of your abundant liberalitie to impart to my poore talent as to one that of dutie intermitteth not to sollicitie the Almighty that hee would alwaies direct you in the commendable race of vertue inrich you with all spirituall and temporall blessings augment your Honors to the highest degree and in the ende reward you with immortall selicitie Your Honors most bounden and obedient in all dutie Emanuel Forde TO THE COVRTEOVS READER EVen as an vnskilfull Pylote lying in safe Harbour should in time of fowle weather launch into the deepe and so bring his Shippe in daunger So I Courteous Reader haue aduenturously thrust foorth this Fancie to abide your Censure which if kinde care is past If otherwise to abide Shipwrack by your discontent But howsoeuer I relie vpon your courtesie that although the matter procure you not that delight my trauels did expect yet you will allow the writers good intent And although the phrase be not altogether agreeable to your fancie yet you will fauourably iudge thereof as the first fruites of my labours If my selfe were present to answere all Obiections those that are discontented should rest better satisfied But in mine absence I craue your kinde opinion wishing no other shelter wherevnder to shrowde the defects then your Courtesie This Knight was long since bred in Bohemia but in Thessalia hee wanne his Title of Honour where first beganne his Famous deedes which if they please my reward is sufficient if not yet pardon and by your Clemencie adde life to the second part whose beeing resteth in your power Expect not the high stile of a refined wit but the plaine description of Ualiant Knights and the constant truth of Loyall Friendes Condemne not vnkindely but Censure fauourably and impute the defects to my want not my will that my desire may take wished effect which is to please all and giue offence to none yet carelesse to satisfie the curious discontented who contemne all things but amend nothing And thus for my recompence let me haue your kinde words and lawfull fauour and I aske no more Farewell E. Forde THE FIRST PART OF THE MOST DELECTABLE and pleasant Hystorie of Parismus the famous Prince of Bohemia his noble Battailes fought against the Persians his loue to Laurana the Kings daughter of Thessaly and his straunge Aduentures in the desolate Iland CHAP. I. How Parismus Sonne and Heyre to the King of Bohemia 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 Osiris 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 whereof 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 coueteous entertainment to all as fitted to their honour and accorded 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 Thessaly 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 exceeding beautie of his daughter Laurana determined to trauell 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
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 himselfe 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 odious that euer after Sicanus was accounted the most recreant knight liuing but being of a shamelesse disposition he nothing regarded the same CHAP. XV. How Parismus and Pollipus were conducted to the Court in tryumphant manner and how Parismus discouered himselfe And of the ioy Lauerana made for his returne And how Oristus was the occasion of his owne death THe blacke Knight hauing ended this combat to his vnspeakeable commendatio was with Pollipus in moste braue and tryumphant manner conducted vnto the Pallace with the noyse of Drummes Trumpettes and ringing of Belles by the Kinges of Thessalie and Bohemia and by the Persian kings who so well liked the blacke knights behauiour that they resolued to stay some dayes there as well to be acquainted with this valiant knight as also to do him al the honour they could thought by his valour they had lost the victorie The stréetes where they passed whereby the Citizens strowed with flowers the windowes doores and house tops were filled with abundance of people that they séemed like stages they came to behold these conquerours Some presented them with garlands of Bayes in token of victorie some with roses some with gifts some with commendation euery one with excéecting prayses of their valour that it were a tedious toyle to rehearse the manifolde honours that were done them as they passed along the stréetes and as they passed by the Marchants house where Parismus had lately escaped the danger of the dogs hée espyed Violetta standing in her fathers doore attended by thrée or foure maides very neatly apparelled who presented Parismus with a most rich embroydered scarffe so artificially wrought that it excelled all the most curious workes in Thessaly wherein wee had most exquisitely drawne out of the whole manner of Parismus aduenture with her in her fathers house which gift hee most kindely accepted being by that time hée had vowed the same come to the Pallace where they were welcommed by the Quéene and her Daughter Laurana with soundes of Musicke and excéeding ioy after the Quéene had vsed some spéeches Lauarana most heartily thanked him that he vouchsafed to be her Champion but her countenance be wrayed her inward care and her sadde behauiour her mournfull thoughts her minde being drawne to the extreamest limits of respite and giuen ouer it selfe to the most bitter pangs of sorrowfull meditation that Parismus maruailed to see her constant resolution that could be altered by no meanes of ioy nor once forgette him that had bene so long missing Dionisius likewise welcommed thither the King of Persia and the rest of the kings in his companie whose royall entertainment was mâ—…uailously liked and commended of all The Champions according as the custome was were seated at a table ordained for the same purpose with great state and Dionisius and the King of Bohemia came vnto them as the manner was with them to disarme them for their more honourable entertainement But Parismus seeing his Father comming to doe an office of dutie to him rose from his seate and knéeling downe requested a voone at his hands the King of Bohemia séeing him kneele willed him to aske what hee would My Lord said he my sute is that you would forgiue Parismus enemies the King of Bohemia little thinking that would haue beene his request wondred what reason he had to aske pardon for his sonnes enemies and said vnto him Sir knight I would gladly know why you aske pardon for them that haue murdered my sonne My Lord answered he because Parismus is liuing wherewith he pulled off his Helmet and the King his father knew him and caught him in his armes with such excéeding ioy that the teares ran downe his white beard in aboundance Dionisius and Oliuia likewise espying him embracing him with a thousand hearty welcomes and the whole Court was filled with excéeding ioy for his returne The king of Persia and all the rest of his partâ—… likewise came vnto him and desired him to remit all discontent that had passed betwixt them for that now they did repent them for the iniury thâ—…y had done to him the like honour was done to the Phrigian Pollipus al admiring the wonderfull vertues of Parismus and recounting the famous acts he had done seemed to be rauished in minde with ioy that it was he that had so honourably defended himselfe against all knights that did combat with him Presently they were all seated at a most royall feast Where Parismus before the King of Persia and all the Kings present rehearsed the whole truth of Sicanus conspiracie against him and how he was perserued and how that he had liued euer since in the caue amongst the Outlawes and how he came by the blacke armor which discourse did so much disgrace Sicanus and extoll his owne commendations that euery one reioyced at his good fortune and contemned Sicanus falshoode Parismus hauing ended his discourse maruelled that hee could not see Laurana to welcome him but shee being nothing delighted with any newes but of his returne and nothing at all thinking he had béen her companion all that while absented her selfe from their company for that her fancies were otherwise busied and had withdrawne her selfe to her chamber only accompanied with Leda her maide Dionisius séeing that Laurana was not there willed one of his gentlemen in the hearing of Parismus to signifie vnto her that her champion staied for her welcome Parismus hearing his spéeches desired him the fauour that hee might goe and visit her himself wherwith Dionisius was well contented and he Pollipus with him being vnarmed went to Lauranaes lodging which they found fast shut but Parismus longing to behold her perfections whereby his life was maintained knockt at the doore and Leda came opened the same who seeing him was so surprised with ioy that shee ran in againe without speaking a word and told her Mistresse that Parismus was at the doore at which word Laurana started saying I pray thee doe not torment mee with these newes of ioy for I know they cannot bee true for â—…ull often thou hast kindly deceiued my expectation Deere Mistris said she beleeue me it is most true and againe ran to the dore telling Patismus that her Mistris would be very glad to see him Parismus entred the Chamber and with such seruency delighted himselfe to behold her presence that his wits were rauished with a heauen of ioy and Laurana hauing espied him was so surprized with vertuous amazement to behold his person that the teares fell from her eies and her heart lept in her breast Who being met most louingly kist each
espying her begane to be somewhat abashed saying Most noble Quéene I desire your pardon hauing taken me thus on a sudden I did certifie his hignesse that I was not well to the intent to bring our maske vnlooked for Noble Prince replied the Queene I am glad that you are in the good estate of health and thus readie to honour vs with your vertuous exercises promising you to keep your intent secret to my selfe And if you want any furtherance that I can pleasure you withall it shall be readie at your commaund wherewith she departed to Laurana telling her that she intended to make the new come states a banquet and therefore willed her to giue order to haue the same performed which newes reioyced Laurana to heare for that she hoped there to see the Prince of Bohemia to whom she â—…are an inward loue and desire of acquaintance so that hasting all things to a readinesse and adorning her selfe in most comely ornaments shée expected the wished time of their comming When supper was endde the Quéene coÌ„maunded a gentleman to inuite Dionisius the king of Hungaria the Prince of Sparta and all the rest vnto a banquet in an excéeding stately Gallery where they were by the Quéene most royally entertained all in generall admiring the excéeding beautie and comely statelinesse of the Princesse Laurana that almost they fed theÌ„selues as much with her surpassing beautie as with the dainties that were there prepared Laurana on the other side maruailed that amongst all those knights she could not behold the prince of Bohemia which drawn her into maÌ„ifold thoughts only resting in hope to be afterwards assured of the truth By that time the banket was ended and all readie to depart they were staied by the sound of most swéete musicke which vnexpected noise made Dionisius wonder but to driue him froÌ„ those thoughts the maskers eÌ„tred in this sort first entred two torch-bearers apparelled in white satten beset with spingles of gold after whome followed two Eunuches apparelled all in gréene playing on two instruments then came Parismus ateired all in Carnation saften most richly beset with precious stones that the glistring restection thereof with the light of the Candle did dazle the eyes of the beholders next followed two other torch bearers Eunuches apparelled as the former and playing on seuerall instruments when came two knights apparrelled in tawny most richly adorned next them followed two other torch bearers and Cunuches apparelled as the first after whome followed two other Knights apparelled in tawnie as the other and last come two torch bearers two Eunuches apparilled and playina on seurall instruments after whom followed Lord Remus apparelled in Carnation like Parismus but not in such gorgeous maner al togither marching thrice about the Gallery whiles their musick sounded all the assembly wel liked this maske especially Dionisius wondred of whence they were for that hée wes altogither ignorant nothing suspecting that they were of his owne Court saying to the Prince of Sparta there is a yong Prince in my Court that is now ficke otherwise I should think he had bene chiefe amongst them the eyes of the whole company were busied with beholding their comely persons and their eares delighted with the swéet sound of their musicke Laurana aduisedly beheld those knights thinking verily that Parismus was one in the company for shée knew not of the message he had sent the king her father While she was in the midst of this meditation Parismus came with great reuerence to take her by the hand to dance which shée courteously accepted Lord Remus tooke the Princesse of Spartaes sister Lord Oristus and other Lady of Sparta and likewise the rest The first measure being ended Parismus reuerently saluted Laurana with these spéeches Most vertuous Princesse pardoÌ„ me for presuming to trouble your sacred eares with my spéeches for the vertue of your beautie hath ouermastered my affections and my poore life is diuoted to your seruice desiring you to accept me for your poore seruant though altogether vnworthy And though the smal tryall you haue of my truth may discourage you to credit me yet notwithstanding my vnworthinesse I desire you to imploy me any way thereby to try how willing I will be to merit your fauour Sir quoth Laurana I thanke you for your kindnes neither can I blame your spéeches if your meaning be good But as I am vnworthy to entertaine such a seruant so would I not willingly trust him I know not but heareafter when your disguise is banished as I shall sée good I will entertaine you Noble Lady said Parismus I haue taken this habit only thereby to be so happy as to make manifest my affectioÌ„ to deserue your fauour that if you wil vouchsafe to conceiue a right of my good meaning you would say he that profereth his seruice would refuse to do it to any but to your most worthy selfe Sir qd she as I knowe you not so I am ignoraÌ„t of your meaning and therefore count mée not vnmannerly to make no more estimation of your profered curtesie Parismus being ready to speake the second measure sounded which being ended Lord Remus began to parlie with Lady Isabella sister to the Prince of Sparta Courteous Lady I being vnknowne profer my humble seruice vnto your selfe vnto whose perfections I am so wholly bound that vnlesse it pleaseth you to accept of my loyaltie I shall consume my wearisome dayes in sorrowe Sir quoth Isabella your vndeserued kindnesse I knowe not how to requit and I would be sorie thaâ—… by mâ—… occasion you should be grieued and I promise you as occasion serueth hereafter I will entertaine you All this while Parismus was talking with Laurana vsing these speeches Most worthy Princesse because I am disguised you may count my woordes to proceede rather of course then of true affection but assure you neuer did any with truer zeale vtter his fainting wordes nor more abborre vnfaithfulnesse then my selfe doth being also vnknowne to you you may thinke my boldnesse to proceede of hope not to be knowne but to acquaint you with my name it is Parismus who haue forsaken my Countrey and friends onely to serue your vertuous selfe and doe you seruice But since my comming into your fathers Court I could neuer be so happy vntill this happy houre as to enioy your presence which is the only comfort whereon my happinesse dependeth therefore vertuous Princesse weigh my intent in the ballance of equitie and let mee by your comfortable speech be reuiued My noble Lord replied Laurana I hartily thanke you for taking so much paines for my sake being vnworthy thereof and also vnable to be sufficiently thankful vnto you for the same and for that you say your happinesse resâ—…eth in my power if I can any way worke yourcontent to the vttermost of my endeuour I will do it Parismus was so rauished with the heauenly voyce of Laurana that hee could haue wisht no other happinesse then to enioy her presence and