The portion of Italy which they and their tyrannical rivals possessed was infamously governed.

The highways were rendered impassable by banditti, who were in the pay of contesting feudal lords; and life and property were everywhere insecure.
Stefano, nevertheless, seems to have been a man formed for better times.
He improved in the school of misfortune--the serenity of his temper remained unclouded by adversity, and his faculties unimpaired by age.
Among the illustrious strangers who came to Avignon at this time was our countryman, Richard de Bury, then accounted the most learned man of England.

He arrived at Avignon in 1331, having been sent to the Pope by Edward III.

De Sade conceives that the object of his embassy was to justify his sovereign before the Pontiff for having confined the Queen-mother in the castle of Risings, and for having caused her favourite, Roger de Mortimer, to be hanged.

It was a matter of course that so illustrious a stranger as Richard de Bury should be received with distinction by Cardinal Colonna.