Londons Lotterie :
With an incouragement to the furtherance thereof, for the good of
Virginia , and the benefite of this our native Countrie; wishing
good fortune to all that venture in the same.
To the tune of Lusty Gallant.
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LOndon, live thou famous long,
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thou bearst a gallant minde:
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Plenty, peace, and pleasures store,
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in thee we dayly finde.
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The Merchants of Virginia now,
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hath nobly tooke in hand,
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The bravest golden Lottery,
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that ere was in this Land.
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A gallant House well furnisht foorth,
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with Gold and Silver Plate,
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There standes prepard with Prizes now,
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set foorth in greatest state.
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To London , worthy Gentlemen,
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goe venture there your ch[a]unce:
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Good lucke standes now in readinesse,
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your fortunes to advance.
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It is to plant a Kingdome sure,
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where savadge people dwell:
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God will favour Christians still,
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and like the purpose well.
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Take courage then with willingnesse,
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let hands and hearts agree:
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A braver enterprize then this,
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I thinke can never bee.
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Our most royall King and Queene,
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in princely forwardnesse,
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Hath granted grace and favours both,
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as thousands can expresse.
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Sweete natures Jem, Prince Henry he,
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in love is not behinde:
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The Nobles of the Land likewise,
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we all doe forward finde.
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Well may this famous Lottery,
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have good successe and speede,
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When as the States of England thus,
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doe such good liking breed.
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Come Gallants, come; come noble mindes
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come venture now for Gold,
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For smiling hope, heere bids you all,
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take currage, and be bold.
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Come Knights, and gallant Gentlemen,
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put in your ventures all:
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Let nothing daunt your willing mindes,
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good fortune may befall:
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Mee thinkes I see great numbers flocke,
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and bring in fast their Coyne:
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And Tradesmen how in loving sort,
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their Monyes all doe joyne:
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Heere Pryzes are of great account,
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not simple, plaine, and poore;
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But unto Thousands doe surmount,
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whereof there be some store:
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And happely some men there be,
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in gayning of the same,
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May spend their dayes like Gentlemen,
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in credite and good name.
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As lately heere in London was,
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some unto Riches brought;
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Where many mended their estates,
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when they full litle thought:
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Yet heere are greater Pryzes farre,
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as easly to be gaind,
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And valued to more thousand poundes,
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then hath the first containd.
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You London Merchants sending foorth
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your fortunes to the Sea,
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Heere may you purchase Golden worth,
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and Countries love this way.
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It pleaseth God, contentes the King,
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in venturing thus your store:
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To plant that Land in government,
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which never was before.
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Full many a man that lives full bare,
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and knowes no joyes of Gold,
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For one small Crowne may get a share,
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of twice two Thousand told:
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Then what is hee that feares to try
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his fortune in this kind,
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When lucke & chaunce may make a man,
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and thus great Riches find.
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You Maydes that have but portions small
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to gaine your Mariage friend,
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Cast in your Lottes with willing hand,
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God may good fortune send.
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You Widowes, and you wedded Wives,
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one litle substaunce try:
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You may advance both you and yours,
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with wealth that comes thereby.
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The Second part of Londons Lotterie.
To the tune of, Lusty Gallant.
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Y Ou Farmers and you Country men,
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whom God hath blest with store,
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To this good worke set helping hand,
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and God will send you more:
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What comes in love, will prosper well,
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and be redoubled backe:
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And they that thus for Countrie doth,
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can never live in lacke.
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The King, the Queene, & noble Prince,
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gives courage to perswade:
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The Peeres and Barrons of the Land,
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hath not their loves denayde:
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Court and Citie doth the like,
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where willingly each man,
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To builde up fast Virginias state,
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performes the best he can.
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The Merchants of the Easterne partes,
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heere shewes both love and care;
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And ventures Gold with joyfull heartes,
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and thereof makes no spare.
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Our gallant London Companies,
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and Halles of high renowne,
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Into Virginias Lottery,
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sendes freely many a Crowne.
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For good intent all this is done,
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and no man wrongd therein:
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Then happy fortune be his dole,
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the greatest Prize can win:
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And happy fortune be their guides,
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that nobly thus maintaines
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The planting of this New-found Land,
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with cares, with cost, and paines.
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Let no man thinke that he shall loose,
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though he no Prize poseesse:
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His substaunce to Virginia goes,
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which God, no doubt will blesse:
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And in short time send from that land,
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much rich commoditie;
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So shall we thinke all well bestowd,
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upon this Latterie.
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Heere profite doth with pleasure joyne,
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and bids each chearefull heart,
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To this high praysed enterprise,
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performe a Christian part:
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Good Countrymen be forward then,
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and with your Tallents small,
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Adventure heere for good luckes sake,
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and graunt your loves withall.
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We ought not live heere, for our selves,
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but for our Countries good:
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And Countries good, it is well knowne,
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long hath this purpose stood:
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For first, when Queene Elizabeth
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heere livd, so much renownd,
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This Land now call'd Viginia ,
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by English-men was found.
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Sir Gilbert, Drake , and others more,
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gave us thereof first sight;
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But followed now by noble mindes,
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with carefull course aright:
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Desiring nothing for their paines,
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but Countries love and favour:
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Then reason calles our liberall aydes,
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to this renowned labour.
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Who knowes not England once was like
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a Wildernesse and savage place,
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Till government and use of men,
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that wildnesse did deface:
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And so Virginia may in time,
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be made like England now;
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Where long-lovd peace and plenty both,
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sits smiling on her brow.
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Our King, the Lord full long preserve,
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the cause of all this pleasure:
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The Queene, the Prince, and all his seed,
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with dayes of longest measure:
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And that Virginia well may proove
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a Land of rich increase:
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And Englands government thereof,
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good God let never cease.
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