guarantees against extortionate prices for food and other necessaries.

1. The following examples are cited, among many others in the statutes
of the city of Padua:

The town of Padua binds itself to make loans to scholars,
according to the quality of the scholars, upon good and
sufficient securities or bonds worth a third more than the loan,
and upon the oath and promise of the scholars that they accept
the loan on their own account and for their own use in meeting
their personal expenses and not for any other person or persons
or for the use of others. (1260 A.D.)

Every six months the Chief Magistrate of Padua shall appoint two
money lenders for the scholars,--judges or laymen at the will of
the Rector of the scholars--who shall have charge of the town's
money that is to be loaned to the scholars. And they shall, in
the name of the town, make loans to the scholars in accordance
with the statutes and the agreement of the scholars, and at their
own risk entirely, so that the town of Padua shall not incur
loss. And the money lenders shall themselves deposit in the town
treasury good and sufficient security as to this. (1268.)

Scholars shall be regarded as citizens with regard to matters
advantageous, but not with regard to matters disadvantageous to
them. (1261.)

Scholars shall not be required to pay the _tolloneum_ (i.e. taxes
on imports, collected at the city gates). (1262.)[51]