OR

THE FEILD OF HAPPINES.

In which Feild are planted feuerall Trees of magnificence,
State and Bewty, to celebrate the Solemnity of the
Right Honorable Fames Campebell, at his
Inauguration into the honorable Office

of Prætorship or Maioralty of
London, on Thursday the
29. of October,

1629.

All the particular Inventions for the Pageants, Showes of

Triumph, both by Water and Land, being here
fully fet downe. At the fole Coft, and
liberall Charges of the Right
worshipfull Society of

Ironmongers.

Written by Thomas Dekker.

Quando magis dignos licuit fpectare triumphos.

I

TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE JAMES CAMPEBELL, LORD MAIOR OF THE MOST RENOUNED CITTY OF LONDON.

HONORABLE PRÆTOR,

The Triumphes which these few leaues of paper present to your vew (albeit their glories are but short liued as glittering onely for a day), boldly shew their faces unto the eye of the world, as feruants attending on your Lordship onely to do you honor.

With much care, coft, and curiofity, are they brought forth; and with exceeding greatnesse of love, a free handed bounty of their purse, a noble and generous alacrity of fpirit, have your worthy fraternity, and much to be honored brotherhood of Ironmongers beftowed them vpon you.

It much winnes vpon them to have fuch a cheife, and you cannot but be glad to have such a society: by a free election are you Londons Prætor; the fuffrages of commoners call you to your seate. A fucceffion to the place takes you by the hand, your industry hath met with bleffings, thofe bleffings given you ability, and that ability makes you fit for a magiftrate.

Yet there is a muficke in your owne bosome whose ftrings being touchd, yeilds as harmonious a found to

4

you as all theife, and that is to fee your felfe heire to that patrician dignity with which your father was inuested. It was an honor to him to weare that robe of scarlet; it is a double glory to you, in so short an age to haue his sword borne before you.

You haue the voyce of fenators breathing out your welcome, a confluence of grave citizens, adding state to your ftate. The acclamations of people vihering you along. Whilft I (the least part of this triumphant day) fpend fuch fand as I haue, to help to fill up the hour glaffe, my feruice ronning.

Attending on your Lordship,

Thomas Dekker.

ERE it poffible for a man, in the compaffe of a day, to behold (as the funne does) all the citties in the world, as if he went with walking beames about him; that man fhould neuer fee in any part of the yeare, any citty fo magnificently adorned with all forts of tryumphes, variety of muficke, of brauery, of bewty, of feaftings, of ciuill (yet rich) ceremonies, with gallant Lords and Ladies, and thronges of people, as London is inriched. with, on the first day that her great Lord (or Lord Maior, for 'tis all one) takes that office upon him.

In former ages, he was not encompast with fuch glories; no fuch firmaments of ftarres were to be feene in Cheapfide: Thames dranke no fuch coftly healthes to London as hee does now. But as Troynouant spread in fame, fo our English kings shined vpon her with fauours.

In thofe home-fpun times, they had no collars of SS, no mace, fword, or cap of maintenance; these came by degrees, as additamenta honoris, additions or enfignes of more honour, conferd by feuerall Princes on this Citty for in the time of Edward Confeffor, the chiefe Ruler of the Citty was called Reeue,