Now you shall understand, there was in Verona, a bishop a wise man, a learned & of a singular good wit by nature, whose name was Giovanni Matheo Giberti: Amongst many good parts y^t were in him, he was very courtious & liberall, to all gentlemen & noble men that came unto him, doing them all y^e honor he could in his house, not with over much pompe and cost, but with convenient entertainement and measure, such as besemed well a man of the Clergie. It chaunced in his time, a noble gentleman called Count Richard, passed that way, to spend a fewe dayes with the Bishop and his householde together: which was thoroughly furnished w^t honest gentlemen and very well learned. And bycause they found him a Noble gentleman, courteous and well beseene in all good behaviour, they praised him muche, and made muche of him, save that one unmanerly fashion they muche misliked in him. When the Bishop was advertised of it, consulting with some of his familiars about it (as he was a wise man in all his doings) straite they concluded, it should be necessary to let y^e Count have knowledge of it: albeit they feared, they should offend him. Upon this, y^e Count taking his leave, and redy to ride away the next morning, the Bishop called one of his servants unto him, (a man of good discretion) and gave him in charge to take his horse, to beare the Count company, some parte of his waye: And when he sawe his time, after an honest sorte, to tell him, that which they had determined betwene them selves. The same gentleman that had this charge, was a man well strooken in yeares, very lerned, and mervailous pleasaunt, welspoken, comely, and had muche frequented in his time, y^e Courtes of greate Princes: who was (perhaps) and is, called Galateo: at whose request and councell, I first tooke in hand to set forth this present treatise. Riding with the Count, he found him plesaunt talke ynoughe, and passing from one matter to another, when he thought it time to returne to Verona, in taking leave at parting, with a gentle & cherefull countenaunce, he used this speache unto him. "Sir Count, my Lorde yealdeth you many thanks for the honour you have done him, in that it hath pleased you to vouchesafe his poore house: and that he may not be unthankfull, for this your greate courtesie shewed unto him, he hath geven me in charge, that I must leave a present with you in his behalfe: and he sends it unto you with earnest request, that you please to take it in good worthe: and this is the gift. You are a goodly gentleman, and the best manered man my Lorde hath ever seene: So that very heedefully beholding your behaviours, and particularly considering them all, hee findeth no one that is not very comely and comendable, only one unsemely tricke alone excepted, which you make with your lippes and your mouth together, feeding at your meate with a certaine straunge noyes, unpleasaunt to all men that heare it. This my Lord willed me to tell you, and prayes you to endevour your selfe