VISCOUNTE. Bernabo Visconti, lord of Milan in Lombardy and a powerful member of the Ghibelline party, was a contemporary of Richard II and well known at the English court. Lionel, Duke of Clarence, married his daughter Violanta, and Sir John Hawkwood, English commander of Milan's forces, married another daughter, Donnina. Records show that Chaucer went to Milan in 1378 on a diplomatic mission for Richard II, where he met Bernabo and Sir John. In 1385 Bernabo's nephew treacherously deposed him, and he died in prison in December 1385.

In his short stanza on Bernabo, the Monk recounts the story of Bernabo's death, MkT 2399-2406. Bernabo is the "scourge of Lumbardye" because at the time of his fall he was besieging Verona and his soldiers were ravaging the countryside.

Viscounte occurs in final rhyming position, MkT 2399.