Londons Lotterie: With an incouragement to the furtherance thereof, for the good of Virginia, and the benefite of this our natiue Countrie; wishing good fortune to all that venture in the same.
To the tune of Lusty Gallant.
LOndon, liue thou famous long,
thou bearst a gallant minds:
Plenty, peace, and pleasures store,
in thee we dayly finde.
The Merchants of Virginia now,
hath nobly tooke in hand,
The brauest golden Lottery,
that ere was in this Land.
A gallant House well furnisht foorth,
with Gold and Siluer Plate,
There standes prepard with Prizes now,
set foorth in greatest state.
To London, worthy Gentlemen,
goe venture there your chaunce:
Good lucke standes now in readinesse,
your fortunes to aduance.
It is to plant a Kingdome sure,
where sauadge people dwell:
God will fauour Christians still,
and like the purpose well.
Take courage then with willingnesse,
let hands and hearts agree:
A brauer enterprize then this,
I thinke can neuer bee.
Our most royall King and Queene,
in princely forwardnesse,
Hath granted grace and fauours both,
as thousands can expresse.
Sweete natures I [...]m Prince Henry he,
in loue is not behinde:
The Nobles of the Land likewise,
we all doe forward stade.
W [...]ll may this famous Lottery,
haue good successe and speede,
When as the States of England thus,
doe such good l [...]king breed.
Come Gallants, come; come noble mindes
come venture now for Gold,
For smiling hope, heere bids you all,
take cu [...]rage, and be bold.
Come Knights, and gallant Gentlemen,
put in your ventures all:
Let nothing daunt your willing mindes,
good fortune may befall:
Mee thinkes I see great numbers flocke,
and bring in fast their Coyne:
And Tradesmen how in louing sort,
their Mouyes all doe ioyne:
Heere Pryzes are of great account,
not simple, plaine, and poore;
But vnto Thousands doe surmount,
whereof there be some store:
And happely some men there be,
in gayning of the s [...]me,
May spend their dayes like Gentlemen,
in credite and good name.
As lately heere in London was,
some vnto Riches brought;
Where many mended their estates,
when they full litle thought▪
Yet heere are greater Pryzes farre,
as easly to be gaind,
And valued to more thousand poundes,
thou hath the first containd.
You London Merchants sending foorth
your fortunes to the Sea,
Heere may you purchase Golden worth,
and Countries loue this way.
It pleaseth God, contentes the King,
in venturing thus your store:
To plant that Land in gouernment,
which neuer was before.
Full many a man that liues full bare,
and knowes no ioyes of Gold,
For one small Crowne may get a share,
of twice two Thousand told:
Then what is hee that leares to try
his fortune in this kind,
When lu [...]ke & chaunce may make a man,
and thus great Riches find.
You Maydes that haue but portions small
to gaine your Mariage friend,
Cast in your Lottes with willing hand,
God may good fortune send.
You Widowes, and you wedded Wiues,
one litle substaunce try:
You may aduance both you and yours,
with wealth that [...]mes thereby.
The Second part of Londons Lotterie.
To the tune of, Lusty Gallant.
YOu Farmers and you Country men,
whom God hath blest with store,
To this good worke set helping hand,
and God will send you more:
What comes in loue, will prosper well,
and be redoubled backe:
And they that thus for Countrie doth,
can neuer liue in lacke.
The King, the Queene, & noble Prince,
giues courage to perswade:
The Peeres and Barrons of the Land,
hath not their loues denayde:
Court and Citie doth the like,
where willingly each man,
To builde vp fast Viginias state,
performes the best he can.
The Merchants of the Easterne partes,
heere shewes both loue and care;
And ventures Gold with ioyfull heartes,
and thereof makes no spare.
Our gallant London Companies,
and Halles of high renowne,
Into Virginias Lottery,
sendes freely many a Crowne.
For good intent all this is done,
and no man wrongd therein:
Then happy fortune be his dole,
the greatest Prize can win:
And happy fortune be their guides,
that nobly thus maintaines
The planting of this New-found Land,
with cares, with cost, and paines.
Let no man thinke that he shall loose,
though he no Prize poscesse:
His substaunce to Virginia goes,
which God, no doubt will blesse:
And in short time send from that land,
much [...]h commoditie;
So shall we thinke all well bestowd,
vpon this Latterie.
Heere profite doth with pleasure ioyne,
and bids each chearefull heart,
To this high praysed enterprise,
performe a Christian part:
Good Countrymen be forward then,
and with your Tallents small,
Aduenture heere for good luckes sake,
and graunt your loues withall.
We ought not liue heere, for our selues,
but for our Countries good:
And Countries good, it is well knowne,
long hath this purpose stood:
For first, when Queene Elizabeth
heere liud, so much renownd,
This Land now call'd Virginia,
by English-men was found.
Sir Gilbert, Drake, and others more,
gaue vs thereof first sight;
But followed now by noble mindes,
with carefull course aright;
Desiring nothing for their paines,
but Countries loue and fauour:
Then reason calles our liberall aydes,
to this renowned labour.
Who knowes not England once was like
a Wildernesse and sauage place,
Till gouernment and vse of men,
that wildnesse did deface:
And so Virginia may in time,
be made like England now;
Where long-loud peace and plenty both,
sits smiling on her brow.
Our King, the Lord full long preserue,
the cause of all this pleasure:
The Queene, the Prince, and all his seed,
with dayes of longest measure:
And that Virginia well may prooue
a Land of rich increase:
And Englands gouernment thereof,
good God let neuer cease.
FINIS.
Imprinted at London by W. W. for Henry Robaras, and are to be sold at his shop neere to S. Botulohes Church without Aldgate. 1612.