CAURINES (Caurini), were Italians that came into England about the year 1235, terming themselves the Pope's merchants, but driving no other trade than letting out money; and having great banks in England, they differed little from Jews, save (as history says) they were rather more merciful to their debtors. Some will have them called Courines, quasi Causa Ursini, bearish or cruel in their causes; others Caorsini or Corfina, as coming from the isle of Corfica: but Cowel says, they have their name from Caorsum, Caorsi, a town in Lombardy, where they first practised their arts of usury and extortion; from whence spreading themselves, they carried their infamous trade through most parts of Europe, and were a common plague to every nation where they came. The then bishop of London excommunicated them; and King Henry III. banished them from this kingdom in the year 1240. But, being the pope's solicitors and money-changers, they were permitted to return in the year 1250; though in a very short time they were again driven out of the kingdom on account of their intolerable exactions.