XXX. THE LOTTERY OF 1585. (fn. 1)
July 26th, 1585.
A letter from Her Maties Privy Council to the Lord Mayor upon
the Lottery which was sent to this Company to persuade
its members to adventure in it.
After o' hartie comendac[i]ons, we are greaved to understande by suche as by us are apointed as Treasurors to receave
suche money as shoulde be brought into the Lotterie now open
and published by virtue of Her Maties tres patent, and granted
to John Calthrop, Merchante and Citizen of London, that since
the publicac[i]on of the same the proceadinges and cominge in of
the adventurors are very slacke, by reason of the hard opinion
and distruste conceived of the last lotterie, and the length of
tyme set downe for the execuc[i]on of this nowe in hande. We
therefore to whome by authoritie of Her Majties tres it apperteyneth to order and directe the proceedings of the same,
knowinge the purpose of Her Majties graunte of the Lotterie to
have tended speciallie to the benefitting of the said John
Calthrop havinge soe well deserved in bringinge the same into
the Realme, and management of others in the like service have,
for the better comoditie of the said John Calthrop, and satisfac[i]on of such as are disposed to adventure in the said lotterie,
redeemed the tyme of the execuc[i]on and performance thereof,
unto the Eighth daie of November nexte at the furtheste, for
the execuc[i]on whereof and trewe delivery of the pryces to the
wynners. We meane to appoynt certaine p'sonnes of credite
and trust, to whom the care thereof shalbe committed, that noe
man shalbe defrauded of such part or p'rtes of the armor as shall
befall unto him by the event of the said lottery; and to th'ende
the same may be the more speadilie furthered and advanced by
your good meanes, the rather wee thinke yt meete, partelie
uppon the receipt thereof, you call the Aldermen, yo' Brethren
together, and to p'swade every man to adventure in some
reasonable proporc[i]on in the said lottery for themselves, and
thereupon with the like p'suasion to deale with the Maister
and Wardens of all the Companies within the Citie to assemble
theire severall Companies together, and to make them adventure, either particularly or generallie, for the whole Companie
soe many lotteries as they shall thinke convenient, and to bring
in their adventure within the tyme prefixed. And yf you, the
Lord Maior and the Sheriffs, shall by yo' own forwardness and
industry to be further used amongst the citizens out of the
Companies, procure and encrease of th'adventure, whether the
somme of money required by the tres patent may by, or within
the tyme lymitted for the execuc[i]on of the lottery be brought
in there shalbe bestowed upon you the Lord Maior, as of Her
Majties gift and liberalitie in respecte of the foresaid service of
the said Lotterie, one bason and ewre of 100l., and to other of
you the Sheriffs, one bason and ewre of 100 markes, to remayne
to you the Maior and Sheriffs, and to yo' successors Mayor
and Sheriffs within the Cittie for ever. And nothing doubtinge
of yo' forwardness herein wee bidd you hartilie farewell from
Greenwiche, xii of Julye 1585.
Yo' very Lovinge Frends,
Tho. Bromley, Cancel.
Ff. Bedford.
Christr. Hatton.
S. Shrewsbury.
R. Leicester.
H. Hunsdon.
Ff. Walsingham.
Ch. Howarde.
H. Darbye.
August 18th, 1585.
The Livery called and recommended to try their fortune in the
Lottery.
It is agreed that the Livery of this Mistery be called
accordinge to a copie of a letter sente from my Lorde Maior to
the Maister and Wardens concerninge the Lottery, to move
them to adventure therein, which l're was sent f'om the Lord
Maior to the Councell's. It is also ordered and agreed that
the Warden Substitutes shall lykewise call before them the
Bachelors' Companie, and to cawse the said l're to be redd unto
them, and to move them to adventure in the said Lottery
likewise.
June 28th, 1586.
The Drawing of the Lottery.
It is agreed by the Master, Wardens, and Assistants that
Oliver Thomas Pearson, Richd Prockter and Roger Abdye,
Lovinge Brethren of this Misterie, shall give theire attendance
in the Lotterie Howse, sett up at the west dore in Pawle's
Churche Yarde, where the Lotterie shall be cawled out on
Thursday, in the morninge next ensuinge the date hereof, and
their to remayne from eight of the clocke of the said morninge
until xii of the clocke at noone, and soe uppon everye warninge
to p'cede dowards in the Companie untill the same Lottery be
called out.