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The Triplicitie of Triumphes.
Of the pompe and solemp∣nitie of Triumphes, games, and plaies in Natalitia, vpon the natiuities of Emperors, kinges and princes throughout the whole worlde.
THe natiuity of Emperours and Kinges in olde time were had in such honour and reue∣rence, as all Kingdomes and countries of the worlde, deuised by all meanes possible to obserue those great and victorious daies by feastes, triumphes, vowes, sacrifices, games and plaies to celebrate the memorie of a good Prince borne, and to make mention of victories, peace, quietnesse, iu∣stice, and other infinite good thinges and great felicity which * 1.1 is held by the birth of a vertuous prince: and therefore the Romanes vowed in this feast Natalitia, to build temples, and to erect vp Altars, to solemnize games, to set vp Images and statues in the Capitoll, in the market place, and in the Orators court: as in Athens they were woont to magnifie and set forth the dignity of kings and princes natiuities, with the triumphant Arches and Pillers in Ceramicus, in the Temple of the Muses, and in the Castle of Minerua: for the byrth of a good Prince is as the natiuity of a kingdome, and the second birth of euery good particular subiect within the kingdome: and therefore it was not lawfull in these ioyfull feastes Natalitia, by Lycurgus law in Greece, and by Numa