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

Of these 25. are 9. again by Lot set apart: which 9. nominate further 45. as before: and those 45. being by Lot again reduced to eleven; these eleven choose out 41. of the chief Senators, which last have power to elect a Duke. These 41. then after an oath by them severally taken to choose whom they judge worthiest, and some other solemnities performed, write each of them in a scroll whom he thinketh good. The scrolls are mingled together, and then drawn as they come: and the fitness of the person first drawn is discussed: who if he have ⟨p. 59⟩25. voices with him, had wont anciently to carry it without further ado. But of latter-times they go on, and he that hath most voices above that number, come he first or last to hand, hath the place. If none of them have voices enough, they begin again, and continue till some one be nominated that hath.

Of these 25. are 9. againe by Lot set apart: which 9. nominate further 45. as before: and those 45. being by Lot againe reduced to eleuen; these eleuen chuse out 41. of the chiefe Senators, which last haue power to elect a Duke. These 41. then after an oath by them seuerally taken to chuse whom they iudge worthiest, and some other solemnities performed, write each of them in a scroll whom hee thinketh good. The scrols are mingled together, and then drawne as they come: and the fitnesse of the person first drawne is discussed: who if he haue ⟨p. 59⟩25. voices with him, had wont aunciently to cary it without further adoe. But of latter-times they go on, and he that hath most voices aboue that number, come he first or last to hand, hath the place. If none of them haue voices enough, they beginne againe, and continue till some one be nominated that hath.

^*Again in their yearly assemblies for the choice of other Officers, all their Gentry that have voice in Council (none of them excluded) draw first for 60. gilt balls out of two pots by one Lottery, the one half out of the one, and the other half out of the other: and then those 60. for 36. other gilt ones out of an other pot by a second Lottery. And the 36. that have thus drawn and lighted on gilden balls twice, have power to nominate to such Offices as are then to be chosen: which they do in this manner. They go apart into certain conclaves by nine and nine in four companies. Where all those of each company in order of years draw out of a Lot-pot balls with marks upon them for the several Offices; and according to the ball that each of them hath drawn, he nominateth what Citizen he will for that Office, who if he have 6. voices of those 9. the party yet holdeth; if not, an other must be nominated by him, till some one be so approved. By this means among those four Companies are there four Competitors nominated for each of their Offices, whereof one is chosen by most voices of the whole Assembly, the Electors and the whole kindred of the parties nominated being only first excluded.