The winner of the greatest and most excellent prize was entitled to receive "the value of five thousand poundes sterling, that is to say, three thousande poundes in ready money, seven hundred poundes in plate, gilte and white, and the reste in good tapisserie meete of hangings and other covertures, and certain Sortes of good linen cloth."
"England in the Days of Old"
William Andrews
He consulted the Sortes Virgilianae about his prospects, with not less hopeful results.
"Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Aurelius"
Samuel Dill
And you shall perceiue that histories were of three Sortes, wholly true and wholly false, and a third holding part of either, but for honest recreation, and good example they were all of them.
"The Arte of English Poesie"
George Puttenham