Of the nature and use of lots a treatise historical and theologicalOf the nature and vse of lots a treatise historicall and theologicall

§ 8. Neither is this practise of Civill Lottery in matter of Office and Employment unusual ^zin Italy even at this day; and that in some of those Estates that for wisdom and policy are of special note and general renown. Among other the State of Venice which many make the very Mirror of policy, and some suppose to be ^aa model of Plato's old platform, is very frequent in this kind. For ^bwhereas among them the whole body of their Gentry are of course admitted into their General Council at 25. years of age, and not ordinarily earlier; yet at 20. they may make suite for it, and if the Lot favour them, then obtain it. To this purpose they meet once a year ^cthe fourth of December: at which time those that seek it, having formerly made proof of their Gentry, have their names cast all into one pot, and brought in to the Duke, before whom standeth another pot with as many balls in it, whereof a fifth part is gilt, and the rest all silver only. He draweth each mans name out of the one, and withal a ball out of the other, which if it prove a golden one, he is thereupon admitted, if a silver one only, he stayeth at least a year longer. Again in the choice of their Officers, not so much the main Offices, as the Electorships are in part disposed by Lot, somewhat after the manner that ^*Augustus sometime used, as not long before ⟨p. 58⟩we showed. For first in the designation of their Duke their principal Magistrate there is Lottery upon Lottery, lotting and voicing in a prolix and intricate manner interchangeably mixed the one with the other. ^dWhen the place is void either by deposition, or (as most usually) by decease, all their Gentry of 30. years of age or upward (for none under are then admitted) are assembled together, and come in order of place as they sit (Lots first cast which side of them shall come first) to the Lotpot, having as many balls in it as there be of them in all, whereof 30. only are gilt: there a child draweth for each of them, till for 30. of them those 30. gilt ones be drawn. For which 30. the child draweth again the second time out of another pot that hath 9. only gilt ones. The nine so drawn withdraw themselves into a conclave, where among themselves they name 40. such as have each of them 6. voices at least. Out of the 40. so named are 12. again selected by Lot: which 12. among themselves choose 25. each at least by 8. voices.