LOMBARD (Jean-Antoine, master of the Royal Post of Paris, valet de chambre to François II of France)

Document Signed 'Lombart', in French with transcription and translation, being his receipt for 57 livres 10 sols tournois from François de Vigny, Receiver of Taxes for Paris, for the quarter ending 30th June 1560, being the interest on money lent to the Provost of Merchants and Échevins [aldermen] of Paris on 17th March 1553 [1554, new style], vellum, 1 side 5¼" x 12", [Paris], 16th July

Of great interest as an early 'municipal loan', detailing the taxes on which the principal and interest were secured.
The taxes are on wine, woad or madder entering or leaving Paris, and if these are not enough, the loan is secured on any surplus from the tax for supplying foot-soldiers (Paris undertook to maintain 7,500 out of 50,000 nationally) and, as a last resort, the city's 'inherited domain'. Note that in the rates for wine, '15 sols' and '10 sols' should probably read '15 deniers' and '10 deniers', these being the amounts allowed by the letters patent of Henri II, 7th February 1554.
Paris used this way of meeting royal demands from about 1522 to the Revolution. Those who lent money to the city were often officials (such as the Master of the Post, or Customs Adjudicators) who had considerable sums to invest. Interest was paid 'le douze denier' or at 8 and 1/3% per annum. See A. de Saint-Julien and G. Bienaymé, 'Histoire des Droits d'Entrée et d'Octroi à Paris', 1887, especially p. 44 and Table I p.2 (wine), p. 41 (dyes), which tells a fascinating story of the taxes levied at the city boundaries, only abolished in the 20th century.
The Royal Post, under the statute of 1464, carried government mail between Paris and the rest of France. Influential people could use it on condition their letters were read first ! Ordinary citizens used the Paris University Post which kept scholars in touch with their homes. There was no local post within Paris till 1760.
A document from the short reign of François II, husband of Mary Queen of Scots. The titles gentilhomme and valet de chambre du roi were honorary and did not imply personal duties to the king.

Item Date:  1560

Stock No:  51186      £750

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