Westropp — Early Italian Maps of Ireland from 1300—1600. 387 



On the other hand, the road was not smooth for the Lueeans/ and, despite 

 the favour of the Crown and certain leading men, the Irish officials treated 

 them with severity whenever they had an excuse. Sir William de Clare, 

 the Deputy Treasurer in 1291, attacked the company, going with William de 

 Bristowe, the Mayor of Dublin, to the house of Hugh the Lombard in that 

 city and other associates of the Bicardi, forcibly seizing their money, £2,014, 

 and sealing their chests. At the same time the associates of the branches in 

 Eoss, Kilkenny, Limerick, Youghal, and Cork were treated in the same way. 

 The company petitioned the King ; and he directed the Viceroy to inquire 

 into their complaint. The Viceroy impanelled a jury, whose finding, with 

 the seals (among others of Walter the Lombard), is extant. I do not find 

 how far the Bicardi got tangible redress. Eight years later the company got 

 into debt to the Crown (1299); they were suddenly seized and imprisoned, 

 their goods seized, and their business in Tipperary stopped. A certain Lape 

 Tinache in Katherlach (Carlow) paid off part of their debt in 1295 ; but he 

 died 1298, and the trouble continued till the company was nearly ruined. 

 At last (as a forlorn hope) the Bicardi petitioned the Parliament of 1305, 

 praying the King and Parliament to pity their poor estate, and to order the 

 Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer to receive their account of the goods 

 paid to the King in part payment of their debt. The above-named officers 

 were directed to audit the account accordingly." It is a subject worthy of 

 further study as a most instructive chapter in Irish history, too exclusively 

 concerned (as hostile critics say) with slaughter and cattle-spoil. I have not 

 followed it past 1335. From 1322-1333 to that year, I find persons 

 appointed to sue for the King's debts owing by the Bicardi and the " Bettori 

 Sons " of Luka, usually petty sums like 13s. id. The collection seems to 

 have cost the government more than they gained. The only definite fact 

 stands out — William de Combe had an allowance for his trouble about the 

 papers (papyria) of the merchants of the Bicardi and Betturi in the King's 

 hand, and for examining into their debts. In 1339 the King ordered 

 suspension of payment, and by 1345 the Bardi of Florence, the Peruzzi, and 

 other creditors^ of the State went bankrupt. All banking and trade felt the 



' Lucca. ^An enormous mass of material in Cal. Doc. Ir. (especially vol. iii), under dates ; 

 Pipe Rolls (App. Eep. D.E.R.) ; Plea E. and Justic. R. (Cal. ed. James Mills) ; Plea Rolls, No. 15 

 (1291), m. 2d. ; No. 25 (1295) m. 4 ; No 96, m. 20d; Black Book of Limerick and other Registers ; 

 Calendar of Fines, National MSS. of Ireland, vol. ii, No. Ixxxi. The company foreclosed on the 

 mortgage of the Abbot of Wetlmey, and actually leased bim the churches at eighty marks per 

 annum in 1294. 



' See "Memoranda de ParUamento, 1305" (3 W. Maitlaw, Rolls Ser.), p. 165. The petition, in 

 Norman-French, is curious; they appeal piteously, " de lour povre estat." 



■' Readers of Momola will recall the allusion to the collapse of the Bardi. 



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