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Show U8URER3 OF EARLY TIMES. (.ombard Merchants Once the Reliance Re-liance of Engllih Kings. Lombard street took Its name from the Iximbard merchants who, coming from tho four Italian republics of Genoa, Lucca, Flnrcnco and Venice, stilled In London ln the reign of Edward I. They were the great money chnngcrs nnd money lenders of early times. Tho English kings being often In grent slrrlts for money to carry on foreign wnrs and for other purposes, they appealed to tho Lombard merchants for advances, granting them exclusive privileges In return. Their extortions lecamo so grent thnt. In tho reign of Queen Ellznboth, steps wero taken to oblige them to leave the country. They aro chiefly remembered by their armorial bearings of three golden balls, now the distinguishing mark of the use-fill use-fill pawnbroker, tho hnmblo descendant descend-ant of tho proud Lombard money lenders. |