386 Proceedings of the Royal Irish A cademy. 



Brokelcy " of Lucca. The former (also called " Paunsy ") with William Eicci 

 and AVaruncius Walter of Lucca traded in Leinster, and the Gascon debts 

 were assigned to him. The Dublin mint was under the charge of its "faithful 

 master," Alex. Normanni of Lucca in 1283, and the London one was also 

 managed by Lucca merchants a little later. 



We are overloaded with material from which a monograph on the Bicardi 

 Company might be written. In connexion with the new custom we fipd 

 Bouruncinus Franciscus, of Lucca in 1286, Francis Malisard and Gerald 

 Chimbord' in 1292, among the collectors. The second of these constantly 

 appears in the records. In 1284 the Bicardi included Baruncius Galteri 

 (named above), Ronaldus of Podio (Orlandinus of Podium), the above Panichi 

 (in 1301), and " Pteyner Broceholi," the names being frequently misspelled. 

 They and Peregrinus the Lombard sold wine ; so did Nicholas and Hugh 

 of Lucca in 1278 to 1284 In 1283 " Bendyn " the Lombard paid seven 

 hogsheads of wine to the king's use from Dublin, and Eliseus of Lucca paid 

 for the service of Malahide. The king in 1285 ordered the controllers to 

 give the custody of the Irish wool trade to the Bicardi. We have already 

 noted the curious arbitration case of this firm. 



The firm also lent money all over southern Ireland. The Plea Polls give 

 a suit in which a mortgage of Peter, son of Meiler de Brymyngham, dated 

 23 Jan., 1291, was registered in Court, being charged on Cnockgrafiyn, 

 Kylleness, and Karryk, besides the Manor of Athenry in Connacht, securing 

 a sum of money lent by Gerard "Ghimbard" and Eeymund " Eapundi" of the 

 Bicardi.^ In 1293 the " Black Book of Limerick " records the acquittance of 

 the Dean and Chapter of a debt to Geste the Lombard; in 1295 Hubert, 

 Abbot of Wethney, in Co. Limerick, borrowed a sum from Chimbard Malesard 

 and Eapundi; and in 1297 Maurice de Carreu was acquitted of £30 debt to 

 them. The Abbot of Wethney granted them the church of Thurles and the 

 chapels of Codach and Caprach as security for £1000 ; while the abbot of the 

 other great Cistercian House of Co. Limerick, " De Magio " or Monasternenagh, 

 was a borrower from them in 1301 ; and the Prior of Athassell, Co. Tipperary, 

 in 1309. The lands of Eobert Purcell, of Ballycathlan, Co. Limerick, were 

 assigned to Bartholomew MaHzard for a debt in 1310 ; and at the same time 

 Gerard "Grymbard" ("Chimbord" or " Sinbaldi ") found that the goods of 

 Sir Hugh Purcell (on which he had a claim) were held by Thomas Purcell of 

 Croagh in the same county, and so proceeded against him. 



1 ReoU Sinbald 



2 For these debts and suite see Bermingham, 1291, Plea R., No. 15, m. 2d. ; Wethney, 1295, 

 tbid., No. 25, m. 4 ; "W. Uucle, ibid., m. 9 and m. 10 ; Athassell, ArchdaU's " Monasticon Hib." 



