A translation of the articles established by the most excellent magistracy of revisors and regulators of the publick revenue in the exchequer at Venice and approved by the Senate the 5th of March, 1693 in matter of erecting a profitable adventure for the fortunate of one hundred and fifty thousand tickets or bolletines of two ducats each : March the 9th, 1693.

Given by the Magistracy of the most excellent Revisors and Regulators of the Publick Revenue in the Exchequer, the 9th of March, 1693.

IN IMITATION now of this Venetian Adventure, but without the Possibility of one third of the Profit that will be got by it there, and with much more Advantage to Adventurers, Mr. Neale the Groom-Porter, at the special Request and Desire of many eminent Merchants, and others (so fond of the Matter, that they return Money to Venice to invest in those Tickets, which would never be done, if it might be on better terms here) does in the same manner propose the giving out Fifty thousand Tickets, at Ten shillings per Ticket, to be in like manner drawn at the end of Four Months, to be reckoned from the First day of this July 1693. or sooner, if the same shall be sooner filled up against so many Blanks, wanting only Two Hundred and Fifty, which are to be Benefitted Tickets, and in value as herein after exprest. And for the better convenience of dispensing the Tickets for the ease of the Adventurers, and for their full satisfaction that the Money laid down for these Tickets shall again be repaid them, if the Tickets should not be drawn in the time, upon giving back only their Tickets to the Goldsmiths who have signed the same; And that those to whom Fortune dispenses these Benefitted Tickets, whether absent or present, may be certainly sure accordingly to have the Money in specie, as herein after exprest. And that all possible fairness, in seeing the Benefitted Tickets duly put in, and duly drawn out as they ought, and every other thing done that ought to be done in this Case, wherein the method at Venice made use of, for signing and giving out Tickets both in City and Country, and entring of them in Books printed on purpose, and numbred just to answer the Tickets given but, for which Ten shillings apiece must be paid, shall and is truly intended to be the same as near as possible can be, that shall be made use of here; with this difference only, That whereas at Venice the State is to answer for the just and well-performing of all things in the Articles printed, and for so doing, is allowed above 33 l. per Cent. here the Groom-Porter, who sets up this Adventure, for all his Cost, Care, Pains and Management, is allowed only 10 l. per Cent. and no more; and in stead of Officers deputed by that Senate to manage the matter to the satisfaction of all Parties concerned, has and does hereby depute Richard Lascells near Charing-Cross, Ioseph Fells by the New-Exchange, John Coggs against St. Clements Church in the Strand, Sir Francis Child and Richard Hoare in Fleetstreet, John Johnson in Cheapside, Sir Stephen Evans, Thomas Williams, John Sweetapple, Will. Atwell and Will. Shepheard in Lombard-street, London, Goldsmiths, their Deputy and Deputies, Receivers of all Monies to be so paid in for Tickets, and to sign and give out Tickets for the same; who have undertaken to be answerable for the Money so by them to be received, and to answer and pay the same as herein before or herein after expressed. And Sir Benjamin Thorowgood, Sir Tho Vernon, Sir Peter Paravicine, Sir Ioseph Hearne, Sir Will. Gore, Sir Charles Cotterell, Sir Will. Forrester, Tho Povey, Rob. Rawworth, Rich. Goodall, Rob. Nott, Will. Lownds, Rob. Squib, Rich. Normansel, John Genew, Rob. Beningfield, Rich. Spencer, Dalby Thomas, and John Thraile, Esquires; together with the Goldsmiths before named, have been requested, <3> and have undertaken to be Overseers, Directors and Managers of the whole Affair, in which there is nothing to be ordered or done without the Concurrence of Five at least of the Persons before-named; so that there will be no room left to doubt of Justness and Fairness throughout the whole managing of it; and nothing, ever like this, was at so small Advantage proposed.

And to answer the 25000l. so to be taken for 50000 Tickets to be given out at Ten shillings apiece, there will be 250 Benefitted Tickets to make up the said 25000l. abating 10 per Cent. only to be allowed for the Trouble and Charge; and as soon as the 50000 Tickets are given out and compleated, the Overseers before-named shall meet and call for the Books, and see all the Money so placed as to be ready to be paid on demand, to such Persons or their lawful Representatives as shall present the Benefitted Tickets; and the same shall be accordingly so paid the following day after they have been so fortunate; and the said Overseers shall then also appoint the Day to begin to draw these Tickets, which shall be made publick, and continue daily and publickly at Mr. Hughes. Great Room at the Upper End of Freemans-Yard in Cornhil, London, with the assistance of the Overseers till ended, which 'tis hoped may be done in two or three days.

The Benefitted Tickets are to be[1]

And if it should happen that the last benefitted Ticket should be the last drawn, the said 100l. shall be paid, besides what may come by the said Benefitted Ticket.

And if in the abovementioned time the whole number of Tickets be not compleated, the Draught shall yet be made for those that are put in, and the Benefits proportioned to the number of Tickets, of which by the Overseers a diligent Calculate shall be made.

And to farther explain the practical Part of this Matter,

Note: Books will be purposely printed, containing the whole number of Tickets, and of those three of each Sort (as hereunder described) just marked and numbred alike; No. 1. C. D. Or any other mark the Adventurers desire may be put No. 1. C. D. No. 1. C. D. No. 2. B. F. No. 2. B. F. No. 2. B. F. from which Book the outermost Ticket Signed by the Goldsmith shall be first cut, and given to the Person that so pays the Ten shillings for it; the next, which will be just like the Tickets given out, is to be cut, and put into a strong Box, whence it is to be drawn; and then the third, just the same with the other two, will remain still in the said Book, so that to whoever Chance gives a Ticket that entitles him to a Benefit, must bring or send the said Ticket to the place where the same shall be drawn, and there it must answer (to prevent all mistakes) the Ticket of the same number drawn, which will likewise answer that that's left in the Book, and it so appearing to do, the Benefit to be forthwith delivered.

And now,

The better to demonstrate how this is to be drawn and done,

Note. All Tickets in the second place to be cut out of the Book, as aforesaid, just numbred and marked like those given out, are, in the presence of the Managers, to be put up into a large Glass to be sealed and lockt up in an Iron, or other strong Box, and there Jumbled together, and kept so lockt up, 'till 'tis drawn, and the Blanks, with the 250 Benefitted Tickets in like manner, in the presence of the said Managers, are to be put into another such like Glass, to be also sealed up and lockt in another strong Box, and there to so remain, 'till drawn out, which is to be done thus:

An Oval Table is to be set in the great Room in Freemans-Yard in Cornhil, London, round which, the Managers and Clerks in order are to sit, and at one End shall be placed the Box wherein are the Tickets so numbred and markt, as aforesaid; and at the other End of the Table the other such Box, wherein are such Benefitted Tickets and Blanks, out of both which, one by one, by some Strangers, they are all to be drawn out thus:

First, From among the Tickets so numbred and markt, one shall be drawn, and then from the Blanks and Benefitted Tickets another, which is to be before all the Company opened; and if it does prove a Blank, the said Blank and numbred Ticket at the same time drawn shall without more ado be put together into a Hole in the middle of the Table for that purpose provided: But if it does prove a Benefit, that and the numbred Ticket shall be both filed up together; but first shall be noted (by the Clerk) with the said numbred Ticket at the same time drawn, in a Book kept apart for that purpose, which Note shall be underwrit by two of the Overseers then present, the said Book to be kept and shewed in publick and private, and Printed as soon as all the Tickets are drawn out, that all Persons may see to what Number each Benefit does belong, and so accordingly come for the same: And all this to prevent, as aforesaid, Mistakes; And, that no possible Suspition may remain of any foul Play in this Thing,

Note. The numbred Tickets as aforesaid, being put in one Glass, and the Blanks and Benefitted Tickets in another, the said Glasses sealed up just before the Tickets are going to be drawn, shall be took out of the strong Boxes, and showed to the Company present, with the Numbred Tickets, Blanks and Benefitted Tickets in them, and be then shaked and jumbled together, that there may be no placing of either; which Glasses shall then afterwards be again placed in the strong Boxes, from whence all shall be drawn.

In short, whoever is any way possest of any one of these Numbred Tickets, so signed by any one of the Eleven Goldsmiths aforesaid, will this way be certain, that another such Ticket so Numbred and Marked as that he is possest of, shall for him be put in and drawn at this Adventure; where, whether absent or present, he will have an equal Chance with the rest for the Benefits proposed; and be sure that what Sum of Money soever Good Fortune this way shall design him, on produce of his Ticket that entitles him to it, shall forthwith be paid at demand, free from all Charge, or any Deduction whatever.

All Persons are desired to take Notice, That although near four Months are allowed for receiving the Money, and giving out Tickets, 'tis however intended that the same shall be drawn as soon as the Number is compleat; which is hoped before Bartholomew-Day.

This is thus undertaken to be done by Thomas Neale Esq Groom-Porter to Their Majesties, the 10th of July 1693.

A COPY of the Goldsmiths Security to the Adventurers.

I       Goldsmith, Do hereby acknowledge to have received from Tho. Neale Esq a Book signed and sealed by the Overseers, of   Sides or Pages, on every Page of which are Printed Ten Treble Tickets, every Treble Ticket just Numbred alike, beginning with the Number    and ending with the Number    which I promise and oblige my self by these Present to return to the said Thomas Neale undefaced, or to be accountable for 10s. for every Ticket cut or taken off, to the said Thomas Neale, and Overseers of and for this Profitable Adventure herein before named, and for the Purposes, and in manner as is also above in this Printed Paper expressed; or to the Persons who shall return me such Tickets signed by me or my Servant, if the same is not compleated and drawn according to this Printed Paper. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, the    day of    1693.

Sealed and delivered in the
Presence of