I am not, however, disposed to deny some allowance to Petrarch for his dislike of Clement, who was a voluptuary in private life, and a corrupted ruler of the Church.
Early in May, 1353, Petrarch departed for Italy, and we find him very soon afterwards at the palace of John Visconti of Milan, whom he used to call the greatest man in Italy.

This prince, uniting the sacerdotal with the civil power, reigned absolute in Milan.

He was master of Lombardy, and made all Italy tremble at his hostility.

Yet, in spite of his despotism, John Visconti was a lover of letters, and fond of having literary men at his court.

He exercised a cunning influence over our poet, and detained him.