382 Proceedings of (he Royal Irish Acadcnv). 



1284, for tliey lield Uic New Custom at £1,000 a year; they were agents of 

 " iru"li, (tf the merchants of Florencp." Jacobus and Turesianus of the 

 Dcmali lickl the dues of Youghal, Cork, Waterford, and Dublin in the latter 

 year; Hugh Tape and Hugli le Poste (as we saw in 1275) were colleagues. 

 In 1296 the Donati' complained to the Treasurer of unjust treatment; 

 and two years later "Thoresan," in a petition, tells how he had been 

 Keeper of the Exchange in Dublin. He was a very prominent merchant, and 

 is fre(iueutly named in the fiscal records of the closing century. Another 

 leading Florentine, Theobald de Castellyon, lent money in Counties Limerick 

 and Tipperaiy, resulting in various lawsuits with Sir Hugh Purcell of Croagh, 

 Co. Limerick, Sheriff of Tipperary, and with Peter le liotiller in the latter 

 county. 



Even after his death his affairs appear more than once in the Plea 

 Eolls in suits of his executors. His name appeared in a very curious case 

 given by Mr. Mills, the Deputy-Keeper of the Eecords, who, with his usual 

 considerate kindness, gave me the reference before the record was published 

 in the second volume of the Calendar of Justiciary Eolls. Briefly, a 

 controversy arose in 1.305 between Hugh del Poste and' William del Monte, 

 merchants of Florence, concerning the goods of Theobald de Castellown, 

 formerly a merchant of their company. They appointed each two arbitrators, 

 who chose a fifth, one Guido de Yicno, " who was of great discretion." This 

 quality, however, appeared in no praiseworthy form ; for when William tried 

 to get his friendship he would only grant it for a bond, first of £10, and then 

 of £20. He next extorted similar bonds from Hugh to act in his favour. 

 However, he could not conceal his double-dealing, and, once it got known, the 

 injured party brought it into court, claiming damages to 500 marks. Guido 

 set up an ingenious plea, endeavouring to clear himself of malice or corrup- 

 tion. A jury of twelve Italian merchants was sworn, and they found against 

 the accused. Guido was found " to be at mercy " for £10 ; the bonds for 

 £20 were cancelled, and he was about to be imprisoned (as he so richly 

 desei-A'ed), but some "magnates," friendly to him, interceded, and he was 

 "let make fine," and bidden to be distrained of the deeds. "Brother" 

 Bartholomew Malizard was one of his pledges.^ I have not traced the Eicardi 

 and Bettori later than 1335 ; but the record should be of interest if anyone 

 were to follow their history to the end. 

 ^^^^Thesame chief company, the Friscobaldi, paid £1,100 for the use of 



^ A family prominent as members of the Friscobaldi 

 See also some entries in the Pipe Rolls ,-iii, Edward III of the Eicardi tirm of Lucca, Mem, 

 iioil, an . V and va, Edw. III. 



"Justiciary Rolls, mem. 35, of 1305. 



