The cardinal of St. George, in his poetical, or rather metrical history of the election and coronation of Boniface VIII. (Muratori Script. Ital. tom. iii. P. i. p. 641, etc.), describes the state and families of Rome at the coronation of Boniface VIII. (A.D. 1295).
Interea titulis redimiti sanguine et armis
Illustresque viri Romanâ a stirpe trahentes
Nomen in emeritos tantæ virtutis honores
Intulerant sese medios festumque colebant
Aurata fulgente toga, sociante catervâ.
Ex ipsis devota domus præstantis ab Ursâ
Ecclesiæ, vultumque gerens demissius altum
Festa Columna jocis, necnon Sabellia mitis;
Stephanides senior, Comites, Anibalica proles,
Præfectusque urbis magnum sine viribus nomen.
(l. ii. c. 5, 100, p. 647, 648.)
The ancient statutes of Rome (l. iii. c. 59, p. 174, 175) distinguish eleven families of barons, who are obliged to swear in concilio communi, before the senator, that they would not harbour or protect any malefactors, outlaws, etc. — a feeble security!