CHAPTER I.
Antiquity of _the Lot_--Old lotteries--Derivation of word--First lottery in England: its scheme.
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“A lottery _is a Taxation_ _Upon all the Fools in Creation;_ _And Heaven be prais’d_ _It is easily raised,_ _Credulity’s always in Fashion:_ _For Folly’s a_ FUND, _Will never lose ground,_ _While Fools are so rife in the Nation._”]
So sang Henry Fielding in his play of “The Lottery,” which was first acted at Drury Lane Theatre, January 1, 1732; and I think those who have patience to read these pages will endorse his words.
Gambling, in some shape, is inherent in man, and dice for the casting of LOTS have been found belonging to the Egyptians and Assyrians, in the tombs of prehistoric man, were used alike by the refined Greeks and Romans, and by the barbarous Northmen. The Bible teems with notices of the LOT. It was recommended by Solomon as a means of deciding disputes. “The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty” (Prov. xviii. 18). It was used as a means of dividing land. “Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few” (Numb. xxvi. 55, 56). Nay, one of the Apostles, Matthias, was chosen by LOT (Acts i. 26). But if any one is curious to know how often the LOT is mentioned in Holy Scripture, let him look at Cruden’s _Concordance_.
In this short sketch we see the antiquity of the Lot; but the LOTTERY, the form of gambling of which this book treats, is of comparatively modern invention. The Romans had something of the kind, but it partook more of our presents from Christmas-trees than the modern lottery. First of all were the _Apophoreta_, gifts which were presented to the guests at table, and which they carried home with them--a custom which obtained during the Saturnalia (something like a Silver King presenting his guests with a silver _menu_ card, or the presents given to guests at City Companies’ dinners); and this was sometimes done in a whimsical manner, as is on record that Heliogobalus, at a banquet, presented one guest with a ticket for a gold vase, and another for six flies. Other prizes, which were drawn haphazard, were ten bears, ten pounds of gold, or ten ostriches; and, whilst one might draw a thousand pounds, another would gain a prize of a dead dog.
It is said that lotteries began in Italy in the sixteenth century, and that its name is derived from the _Lotto_ of Florence; but I beg leave to traverse both propositions. There is no doubt but that the Venetian and Genoese merchants made use of the lottery as a vehicle whereby to dispose of their stale goods, or to get rid of a valuable thing for which they could not obtain a purchaser; but the earliest I can find recorded was that of the widow of Jan van Eyck, which took place at Bruges, on February 24, 1446, where the town archives record a payment to her of two livres for her lottery.[1]
[1] Crowe and Cavalcaselle, _Early Flemish Painters_ (London, 1857), p. 68; _Messager des Sciences et des Arts_ (London, 1884), p. 51; and M. Gilliodt’s dissertation in _La Flandre_ (Bruges, 1867).
As for the name. I think that there can hardly be two opinions about it. Long before the Italian _Lotto_, was the Anglo-Saxon _Hleot-an_, sortiri, to cast lots. In the Dutch the same meaning is expressed by _Lot-en_, _Loot-en_; in Swedish, _Lotta_; whilst the Lot itself is in Gothic, _Hlauts_; Anglo-Saxon, _Hlot_; German, _Los_; Dutch, _Lot_; Swedish, _Lott_; French, _Lot_; and Italian, _Lotto_. So that there can be very little doubt of its northern derivation, the Latin synonym, _Sors_, being so totally different.
There is no doubt but that the lottery was imported into England from abroad; and the first of which we have any record was one in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, projected in 1566, but not drawn till 1569. As far as is known, there is but one authentic record of this lottery in existence, which has been happily preserved in the muniment-room at Loseley House, in Surrey. It is in black letter, interspersed with ordinary text and italics, and the bill is five feet long by nineteen inches wide; and the text is surrounded by a border of ornamental type. At top, it has an illustration of the prizes in plate, tapestry, and money--and it is twenty inches in depth. As it is such an unique curiosity, I give the bill at length.
“A verie rich Lotterie Generall, without any blancks, contayning a number of good prices, as wel of redy money as of plate, and certaine sorts of marchaundizes, having ben valued and priced by the comaundement of the Queene’s most excellent majestie, by men expert and skilfull; and the same Lotterie is erected by her majesties order, to the intent that such commoditie as may chaunce to arise thereof, after the charges borne, may be converted towardes the reparation of the havens and strength of the Realme, and towardes such other publique good workes. The number of lots shall be foure hundreth thousand, and no more; and every lot shall be the summe of tenne shillings sterling onely, and no more.
“THREE WELCOMES.
“The first person to whome any lot shal happen, shall have for his welcome, (bysides the advantage of his adventure,) the value of fiftie poundes sterling, in a piece of sylver plate gilte.
“The second to whome any lot shall happen, shall have in like case for his welcome, (bysydes his adventure) the summe of thirtie poundes, in a piece of plate gilte.
“The third to whome any price shall happen, shall have for his welcome, besides his adventure, the value of twentie pounds, in a piece of plate gilte.
“THE PRICES.
“Whoever shall winne the greatest and most excellent price, shall receive the value of five thousande poundes sterling, that is to say, three thousande pounds in ready money, seven hundred poundes in plate gilte and white, and the rest in good tapisserie meete for hangings, and other covertures, and certain sortes of good linen cloth.[2]
[2] All the following lots are abbreviated.
“2nd, 'great price’ £3500, _i.e._ £2000 in money, £600 in plate, the rest in good tapisserie, &c., as above.
“3rd, £3000, _i.e._ £1500 in money, £500 in plate, the rest, &c.
“4th, £2000, _i.e._ £1000 in money, £400 in plate, the rest, &c.
“5th, £1500, _i.e._ £750 in money, £300 in plate, the rest, &c.
“6th, £1000, _i.e._ £500 in money, £200 in plate, the rest, &c.
“7th, £700, _i.e._ £400 in money, £100 in plate, the rest, &c.
“8th, £500, _i.e._ £250 in money, £100 in plate, the rest, &c.
“9th, £400, _i.e._ £250 in money, £100 in plate, the rest, &c.
“10th, £300, _i.e._ £200 in money, £50 in plate, the rest, &c.
“11th, £250, _i.e._ £150 in money, £50 in plate, the rest, &c.
“12th, £200, _i.e._ £150 in money, the rest in good tapisserie and linen cloth.
“13th, £140, _i.e._ £100 in money, £40 in plate, tapisserie, or linen cloth.
“12 prices, every price of the value of £100, that is to say, 3 score and 10 pounds ready money, and £30 in plate, tapisserie, or linen cloth.
“20 and 4 prices, every price of £50, £30 in ready money, £20 in plate, tapisserie, &c.
“3 score prices of 4 and 20 pounds and ten shillings (£24 10/-), £17 in ready money, and £7 10/- in plate, &c.
“4 score and 10 prices, every price of £22 10/- _i.e._ £15 in money, £17 10/- in plate, &c.
“One hundreth and 14 of £18, _i.e._ £12 in money, £6 5/- in plate gilte and white.
“120 prices of £12 10/-, _i.e._ £7 10/- in money, £5 in like plate.
“150 prices of £8, _i.e._ £5 in money, £3 in linen cloth.
“200 prices of £6 10/-, _i.e._ £4 in money, 50/- in linen cloth.
“300 prices of £4 10/-, _i.e._ 50/- in money, 40/- in linen cloth.
“500 prices of £3 10/-, _i.e._ 40/- in money, 30/- in linen cloth.
“500 prices of 50/- in money.
“2000 prices of 40/- in plate.
“6000 prices of 25/- in money.
“10,000 prices of 15/- in money.
“9418 prices of 14/- in money.
“And all the rest, to the accomplishing of the aforesayd number of lottes, shall be allowed for every adventure at the least 2 shillˢ and 6 pens in ready money.
“Conditions ordained for the advantage of the Adventurers in this Lotterie, bysides the Prices before mentioned in the Charte.
“The Queenes Majestie, of hir power royall, giveth libertie to all maner of persons that will adventure any money in this Lotterie, to resort to the places underwritten, and to abyde and depart from the same in manner and forme foliowing; that is to say, to the Citie of London, at any time within the space of one moneth next following the feast of S. Bartholomew this present yeare 1567, and there to remain seven days. And to these cities and towns following: York, Norwich, Exceter, Lincolne, Coventrie, Southampton, Hull, Bristol, Newcastell, Chester, Ipswich, Sarisbury, Oxforde, Cambridge, and Shrewesbury, in the Realme of Englande, and Dublyn and Waterforde in the Realme of Irelande, at any time within the space of three weekes next after the publication of the Lotterie in every of the sayd severall places, and there to remaine also seven whole days, without any molestation or arrest of them for any maner of offence, saving treason, murder, pyracie, or any other felonie, or for breach of hir Majesties peace, during the time of their comming, abiding, or retourne.[3]
[3] This, however, was not acted on, for in the Domestic State Papers in the Rolls Office is one dated April 30, 1569, endorsed, “I. Aldaye to Cecill. Is a prisoner in the Counter for debt. Thought he should have been protected under the Proclamation for the Lottery, but it was made a jest of.”
“And that every person adventuring their money in this Lotterie may have the like liberty in comming and departing to and from the Citie of London, during all the time of the reading of the same Lotterie, untill their last adventure be to them answered.
“Also, that whosoever under one devise, prose or poesie, shall adventure to the number of thirtie lottes and upward, within three monethes next following after the sayd feast of Saint Bartholomew, and by the hazarde of the prices contained in this Lotterie gaineth not the thirde pennie, or so much as wanteth of the same, shall be allowed unto them in a yearely pencion, to begin from the day when the reading of the sayd Lotterie shall ende, and to continue yearely during their life.
“Whoever shall game the best, second, and third great prices, having not put in the posies whereunto the sayd prices shall be answerable into the Lotterie within three moneths next after the said feast of Saint Bartholomew, shall have abated and taken out of the summe of money contained in the said best price, one hundreth and fiftie pounds, and of the sayd second price, one hundreth pounds, and out of the said third price four score pounds, to be given to any towne corporate or haven, or to any other place, for any good and desirable use, as the partie shall name or appoint in writing.
“And whosoever shall gaine a hundreth poundes or upwarde in any price, saving the three severall best prices next aforementioned, having not put in his lots, whereby he shall gaine any such price, within three moneths next following the sayd feast of Saint Bartholomew, shall have abated and deducted (as above is sayd) out of every hundred pounds, five pounds, to be employed as is next before sayd.
“Whosoever, having put in thirtie lottes under one devise or posie, within the sayd three moneths, shalle winne the last lot of all, if, before that lot wonne he have not gained so much as hath ben by him put in, shall for his tarying and yll fortune be comforted with the reward of two hundreth poundes, and for every lot that he shall have put in besydes the said thirty lots, he shall have twentie shillings sterlyng.
“And, whosoever having put in XXX lots under one devise or posie, within the sayd three moneths, shal win the last lot save one, and have not gayned so much as he hath put in, shal likewise be comforted for his long tarrying with the reward of C. pounds, and for every lot that he shal have put in above XXX shall receive ten shillings sterling.
“Item, whosoever shall adventure from fortie lottes upwarde, under one devise or posie, shall have libertie to lay downe the one halfe in readie money, and give in bond for the other halfe to the Commissioner that in that behalfe shal be appointed to have the charge for that citie or towne where the partie shal thinke good to pay his money, with condition to pay in the same money, for the which they shal be bound, six weekes at the least before the day appointed for the reading of the lotterie, upon payn to forfaite the money payde, and the benefit of any price. Which day of reading shall begyn within the Citie of London the XXV day of June next coming.
“And in case it shall fortune the same day of the reading to be prolonged upon any urgent nedeful cause to a further day, the parties having adventured and put their money into the lotterie, shall be allowed for the same after the rate of ten in the hundred from the day of the prorogation of the sayd readyng untill the very day of the first reading of the lotterie.
“Item, every person to whome, in the time of reading, any price shall happen and be due, the same price shal be delivered unto him the next day following to dispose of the same at his pleasure, without that he shall be compelled to tary for the same until the ende of the reading. And, being a straunger borne, he shal have libertie to convert the same, being money, into wares, to be by him transported into foraine parts, paying only halfe custome for the same and other duties that otherwise he should answer therefore.
“Whosoever at the time of the reading shall have three of his owne posies or devises, comming together successively and immediately one after another, the same having put in the sayd three posies within thre moneths (as before), shall have for the same posies or devises so comming together one after an other, three pounds sterling over and besides the price answerable therfore.
“And whosoever at the time of the reading shall have four posies or devises comming together successively and immediately one after another, having put in his sayde posies within three monethes (as before mentioned) shall have for the sayd foure posies and devises six poundes sterling, besides the prices.
“And whosoever at the time of the reading shall have five posies or devises comming together successively and immediately one after another, having put in his lottes within thre moneths (as before), shall have for the sayd five posies or devises ten pounds sterling, besides the prices.
“And whosoever shall have the like adventure six times together, having put in his lots, as afore, shal have for those VI posies or devises XXV pounds sterling and the prices.
“And whosoever shall have the like adventure seven times together, having put in his lots as afore, shall have for those seven posies or devises a hundreth pounds sterling, and the prices.
“And whosoever shall have the like adventure eight times together, having put in his lots as afore, shall have for those eight two hundreth pounds sterling, and the prices.
“And so the posies or devises resorting together by increase of number, he to whom they shal happen in that sorte, having put in his money, as afore is said, shal have for every tyme of increase one hundreth poundes sterling, and the prices.
“The receipt and collection of this present Lotterie shall endure for the rest of the Realme besides London, until the XVᵗʰ day of April next coming, which shal be in the yere 1568.
“And the receipt and collection of the City of London shal continue unto the first day of May next following; at which dayes, or before, all the collectors shal bring in their bokes of the collection of lottes to such as shal be appointed to receive their accomptes, upon paine, if they do faile to do so, to lose the profite and wages appointed to them for their travell in that behalfe. Finally, it is to be understanded that hir Majestie and the Citie of London will answere to all and singular persons havyng adventured their money in this Lotterie, to observe all articles and conditions contained in the same from point to point inviolably.
“The shewe of the prices and rewardes above mencioned shall be set up to be seene in Cheapsyde in London, at the signe of the Queene’s Majesties’ arms, in the house of M. Dericke, goldsmith, servant to the Queene’s most excellent Majestie.
“God save the Queen.
“Imprinted at London, in Paternoster Rowe, by Henrie Bynneman, anno 1567.”
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