A society into which certain Italian merchants formed themselves-the name being derived from the head of the house or firm (Arch. X. 242 n.).
In the Queen's Remembrancer Department is a bundle of documents containing records of a return made temp. Ed. I. of the quantity of wool in the possession of Italian merchants in England. One company making a return was called " La compaignie de Barde de Florenze " and another " La compaignie de Sire Barde Frescobald de Florenze" (ib. XXVII. 221).
They lent money to Edward I. Edward II. and Edward III. (ib. 243).
There was another company called " the Peruzzi " (Ct. H.W. II. 187).
A tenement in Lumbardstret abutting on " Lumbardstret " south, and " Cornhull " north was granted to the merchants of the society of the Bardi, 12 Bd. II. 1318 (Cal. P.R. Ed. II. 1317-24, p.246).
A Dictionary of London. Henry A Harben. 1918.