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THe first who is re∣ported, ever to have rode in Tri∣umph, was Ba∣chus, after him in Rome, Ro∣mulus, who sending his Cap∣tives before him, followed himselfe after on foot, after him his whole Armie. Tul∣lus Hostilus rode on Horse-backe; L: Tarquinius Pris∣cus rode in a Charret of foure wheeles; M. Curius Camillus was drawne with foure white Horses, whom all after him
imitated: The day appointed for the solemnitie of a Tri∣umph, was kept Festivall through the whole Citie, all the Temples being set wide open, and all the Nobilitie providing in their houses the greatest Cheere they could make, insomuch as the whole Armie was abundantly feast∣ed. The whole Senate went unto the gate Capena, in their Robes, to meet, and enter∣taine the Triumpher, by which Port or Gate, he was to enter in: afterwards they went together into the Capi∣toll, then followed all the Trumpeters, sounding to the Charge, as if they were pre∣sently to fall on upon the Enemie: after came Char∣riots laden with the Spoiles
of the conquered Enemies; there followed then goodly Statues, and curious Tables of Brasse, or Ivorie. Also Towers, and formes of such Cities as they had taken; al∣so, a representation of the forme, and manner of their fight with their Enemie. Af∣terwards followed, all the Silver, Brasse and Gold, to∣gether with Statues, Tables, Candlesticks, Platters, Dish∣es, Trenchers, Basons of Gold and Silver taken from the Enemie. Likewise, Jewels, Purple, costly Garments of cloth of Gold, with Crowns of Silver and Gold, which were given to the Victor: then all sorts of Armes taken from the Enemie, as Swords, Speares, Pollaxes, Bucklers,
Brest-plates, Helmets, Tas∣ses, and the like. After were brought the Gifts bestowed upon the Triumpher, as Gold and Silver brought by some thousands of people: then came other Trumpeters, whom followed fifty, or a∣bout an hundred Oxen to be sacrificed, with their hornes gilded, and Garlands upon their heads; these Oxen were accompanied by Boyes, who carried vessels of Gold and Silver to be used in the Sa∣crifice, all the Attendants were clad in Garments of Gold and Purple, interwo∣ven; then came along the Charriots, laden with the Diademes, and Armes of those Kings and Princes which were taken Captives.
After followed the Kings and Princes themselves, with their Wives, Children, Bre∣thren, and other of their kin∣dred and friends. Moreover, others of the Enemies, with their hands bound behind them, and these being of the Nobler, or better sort, were many thousands. Then fol∣lowed the Triumpher him∣selfe, sitting in a golden Char∣riot, made in the forme of a Tower, who was drawne with foure white Horses, and clad in a Robe of Gold and Purple; in his right hand hee carried a Laurell bough, in his left, an Ivorie Scepter; next before him, the Lictors or Marshals, with bundles of Rods and Axes; on every side of him the Trumpets
sounded, and Musicians sang sweetly to their Harpes, clad in Purple, and wearing Co∣ronets of Gold upon their heads; amongst whom, one clad in a Garment of Gold reaching to his feet, break∣ing scurrilous and bitter jests upon the distressed Prisoners, made sport to the people.
Many sweet Odours and Perfumes were kindled, and carried about, whilest a pub∣like Officer bearing up in his hands, a Crowne of pure Gold, beset with many rare and precious Gemms, ever and anon uttered this before the Victor; Respice futura, & hominem te esse c••gita: Con∣sider what will follow, and thinke how you are but a man. Wherfore, in the char∣riot
of the Triumpher, there hung up a little Bell and a Whip, to put him in mind hee might one day fall upon such times, wherein (like a Slave) hee might be whipt, or as an Offender, lose his head; for those who were to be beheaded, had alwaies a little tingling Bell borne be∣fore them, lest, as one pol∣luted and cursed, he might be touched of the people. Sometimes the Sonnes and Daughters of the Triumpher rode with their Father in his Charriot, but the next of his kindred went close by his Horses sides, and sometimes gat up (as if also they would ride in Triumph) upon their backes.
When Augustus rode in
Triumph, Marcellus rode upon the formost Horse on the right hand, and Tiberius on the left: the Triumphers Followers, and the Shield∣bearers followed his Char∣riot; after all the Captaines, with the whole Army in their order, carried Laurell bran∣ches in their hands, and Crownes of Laurell on their heads; and if any of them had purchased any notable rewards, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Crovvnes of Gold, Bracelets, Speares, Shields, and the like, they bare them in their hands, singing Paeans, or Songs of Praise, in honour of the Tri∣umpher, adding hereto, ma∣ny ri••••iculous passages.
After that in this pomp they came into the Forum, or the
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spacious place of the Citie, hee chose out one Captive, especially, whom destinated to death, hee presently sent to prison. After this, hee went up into the Capitoll, the whole Senate, and all the Magistrates accompany∣ing him. Then the execution of the said Captive being publikely proclaimed, they sacrificed their Buls, conse∣crating certaine Spoiles unto Iupiter. Afterward they feast∣ed without the Galleries, or Walkes of the Capitoll, sit∣ting untill the evening: then with Sagbuts and other Mu∣sicall Instruments, they ac∣companied the Triumpher home to his house, and so they ended this Festivall So∣lemnity. This Triumph lasted
two or three dayes, especial∣ly, if they had gotten many and large Spoiles. And thus wee reade Titus Flaminius, L: Paulus, C••: Pompeius, and Augustus to have triumphed. None were allowed this Tri∣umph, except they had put to slight, or slaine five thou∣sand Enemies, and had be∣sides, inlarged the bounds of the Romane Empire. This Pompe and Solemnitie is col∣lected out of Dyonisius Hali∣carnasseus, lib. 2. & 5. Vale∣rïus Maximus, lib. 2. cap. 8. Iosephus de Bello Iudaico, lib. 7. cap. 24. Plutarch in the life of Paulus Aemilius, Appian, and others. Those also tri∣umphed, who had won any notable victorie by Sea, the Beakes and Anchors of Ships
and ••allies being brought to Rome before. Now all this Gold, Silver, and other booty gotten in the Warre, belong∣ed to the Citizens, and was laid up in the Treasurie, one∣ly the charges of the Tri∣umph deducted.
Againe, those who had put their Enemies to flight with∣out effusion of blood, or had overcome Inferiors, as Ser∣vants, they had a kind of a boasting Solemnitie; for they rode into the Citie of Romo on Hors-backe, accom∣panied with the Knights, their friends, and the Armie, being clad in Gownes of cloth of Gold, and Purple, sacrificing Sheepe onely in the Capitoll; and this was called, The les∣ser Triumph.
Three hundred and fiftie Triumphs are reckoned from Romulus unto Bellisarius, who was the last that triumphed under Iustinian, Emperour of Constantinople.
But this custome of riding in Triumph, was allowed but under very few Emperours, although Triumphall Orna∣ments were kept for them, as the Laurell, their Robe, and Ivorie Scepter, which they used when they went abroad in publike.