The two faithful Friends.  
The pleasant History of Alexander and Lodowick, who were so like one another, that none could know them asunder: wherein is declared how Lodwick married the Princess of Hungaria in Alexander's name, and how each night he laid a naked sword between him and the Princess, because he would not wrong his friend.  
To the tune of Flying Fame.  

 

THe Emperor of Germany,  
a tourney did Proclaim:  
Where many Princes of renown,  
resorted to the same,  
Amongst the rest Prince Lodowick came  
and Guido Prince of Spain;  
Prince Alexander likewise came  
great honours to obtain.   

The Emperor's promise was to give  
to him that won the day,  
His only daughter as his bride:  
the Story thus doth say;  
The Champions entered the field,  
with carriage stout and bold:  
Lodowick of France, most manfully  
whose Armour shined like gold.   

Prince Alexander was the next  
that entered in the field,  
And like a champion stout and bold;  
he did advance his shield:  
The haughty Spaniard with the rest  
his valour there did show,  
But Alexander by his strength,  
gave him the overthrow.   

The valiant Prince of Hungary  
brave Alexander he,  
From all the champions in the field  
he won the victory:  
Thus he by valour did obtain  
the Princess from them all,  
But yet in Hungary she lived  
that had his heart in thrall.   
 

The Emperor his promise kept,  
and to the Conqueror gave:  
His only daughter for his wife  
whom Lodowick most did crave;  
For love had so inflamed his thoughts  
and set his heart on fire:  
That for to gain the Princess love  
it was his chief desire.   

This Alexander was so like  
to Lodowick Prince of France,  
That he so lately had or thrown  
by Fate and fortunes chance:  
None could distinguish them aright  
or know one from the other.  
In shape stature and countenance;  
as if they had been brothers.   

Which bread such love betwixt them both  
as could not be divorced,  
Yet fortunes frown, and fickle chance  
Asunder them in forced:  
Prince Alexander gave his friend  
the Emperor's daughter free,  
Which he before had won in field:  
by manly Chivalry.   

The envious Spaniard being vexed  
and tortured in his mind,  
He and the devil devised how  
to 〈◊〉 these lover's kind:  
He to the Emperor accused  
the Princess of base Lust,  
And 〈◊〉 with ●ord for to maintain:  
these accusations Iust.    

The second part. To the same tune.  

PRince Lodowick being thus accused,  
by Guydo Prince of Spain,  
His friend Prince Alexander then  
this combat did maintain:  
And sent his friend Prince Lodowick strait  
to Hungary with speed,  
There in his room for to possess  
the high Imperial weed.   

Friend Lodowick, Alexander said,  
go thou to Hungary,  
Against the Spaniard I'll maintain  
thy cause most manfully:  
The King I understand is dead▪  
go then and in my place,  
Possess the Crown and dignity,  
and all the Royal grace.   

That they will there bestow on thee,  
let it not be denied;  
His daughter likewise in my name  
Make her thy wedded bride:  
But by our friendship I entreat,  
this kindness in thy hands:  
That thou by no means violate  
true constancies chaste bands.   

Although thou wed her as thy wife,  
Yet know 'tis in my name,  
Let her remain a virgin pure  
I do request the same:  
Because my heart she has in hold,  
and love her as my life:  
Away be gone thou know'st my mind  
leave me to end this strife.   

Prince Lodwick now is on his way,  
and Alexander he,  
By fortunes aid the Spaniard slew,  
and set the Prince's free:  
Lodwick in Alexander's name  
received in Hungary,  
The Crown, & likewise in the Church  
his wife received he.   

But every night between them twain  
his naked sword he'd lay,  
Such constant friendship at that time  
his heart and thoughts did sway;  
Prince Alexander came himself  
then Lodwick took his leave,  
Of Alexander his dear friend  
which did him not deceive.   

The Queen in heart was vexed sore  
that she so long should lie,  
With him that was her husband dear  
and not Love's pastimes try:  
Unto a Lord she made her moan,  
and they both did agree:  
To be revenged upon the King  
and poisoned he should be.   

The poison took not full effect  
but broke forth on his face,  
That he a leper did appear  
and then in great disgrace:  
They kicked & spurned him from the court,  
thus in most shameful manner,  
He was compelled to beg for food  
that lately lived in honour.   

To Lodwiks' Court he did repair  
thus like a leper poor;  
And for relief he did entreat  
at his friend Lodwiks door▪  
A Ring he sent unto his friend,  
who well the same did know;  
And came in love to greet his friend  
willing to ease his woe.   

Quoth Alexander unto him,  
kind friend there is no way  
To ease my pain unless that thou  
thy loving babes do slay:  
What 〈◊〉 but I will do for thee,  
quoth Lodwick by and by,  
To ease my friend of this great pain,  
my pretty babes shall dye.   

For which he to the cradle goes,  
where they were fast asleep,  
And with a knife he lets them blood  
his promise for to keep;  
And with their bloods he washed the sores  
from Alexander's face,  
Thus he like to a loyal friend  
the path of Love did trace.   

Thus Alexander being cleared,  
of all his torturing pain,  
Lodwick unto his Queen made known  
how he his babes had slain  
This news did grieve her at the heart,  
but strait she runs to see:  
Whether that it was so or no  
it proved the contrary.   

For both the babes she found alive,  
as God would have it so,  
Which did revive her drooping heart,  
now joys exceeds all woe:  
King Alexander being well  
to Hungary he goes;  
And Lodwick his beloved friend  
to overthrow his foes.   

The victory they soon obtained,  
and took the Lord and Queen,  
And doomed them to such cruel deaths  
as yet had not been seen:  
King Alexander again was Crowned,  
by help of his good friend,  
Their griefs to joys converted were,  
their pleasures did transcend.     

London Printed for Henry Gosson.