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XXI. Virginia Company. A Letter to the Mayor of Salisbury[89]
December 19, 1616

Whereas the Royal, most excellent Majesty, under his great seal of Eng-
land, authorizes the Virginia Company for the setting up of a lottery for
the benefit of that Plantation.

We by virtue of said grant do earnestly pray and desire you Mr Mayor,
Mr Recorder, and the Aldermen of the City your brethren to be assistants
to our deputies Gabriel Barber and Lott Peere being also members of our
Company, to whom, for the approved trial we have of their care and
sufficiency, we have committed the management of a running lottery to
be kept in that, your City of Salisbury, requesting so much more earnestly,
your furtherance therein, for that it is for so good a work as the upholding
of that Plantation which we have now great hope and greater than before,
shall stand and flourish to the honor and benefit of the realm.

And although we are well satisfied of these men's integrity, and have
already given them an oath for their just and true dealing in this employ-
ment, with all men, yet to Satisfy you and the world in the most exact
manner that may, we desire you to receive the key here enclosed, of the
prizes and to see them mingling of them with the blanks, and appoint one
or two of your City, men of care to lock up and open the same every
morning and evening, and permit a child who shall be allowed for his
pains, to draw out the lots for all that adventure, as shall those we employ
not be suspected of popularity who shall only pay out those prizes that
shall be drawn, and yourselves be encouraged if they shall so desire to
give them your testimony of the said proceedings.

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In so doing both ourselves shall have great cause to thank you and the
Plantation to acknowledge your love and kindness towards the same.

And so we bid you very hearty farewell.

From London, 19th of December, 1616