And some suche you shall finde, that allthough they bee combered with no more wealthe then easily serves their turne: yet will they never appeare unles their neckes be laden with chaines, their fingers full of rings, their cappes beset with agletts, and every other parte bespangled, as though they would defie y^e King of Castiglio. Whose behaviours be full of follies and vaine glorie, which cometh of pride, growing of vanitie it selfe. So that wee must eschew these faults, as foule and unseemely things. You shall understand, in many Cities, and those of the best, the lawes doe not suffer, that riche men should go muche more gorgeously attired, then the poore. For poore men thinke they have a wrong: when men seeme, but in countenaunce alone, as it were Imperiously to reigne over them. So that we must carefully beware we fall not into these follies. Neither must a man boaste of his Nobilitie, his Honour or riches: muche lesse vaunt of his witt, or gloriously reherse to much of his deedes & valiant Actes, or what his Auncestors have done, nor uppon every occasion, fall in rehersall of suche thinges, as many men doe. For in suche case, a man would weene, they seeke, either to contend with the Company, (if they be, or will take uppon them to bee, as good Gentlemen, & of as muche wealthe and worthines, as they bee:) or elles to overcrowe them, (if they live in meaner condition and calling, then they doe). And as it were to upbraide them, their poore and base condition of life. A man must neither embase, nor exalte him selfe to muche out of measure: but rather bury in silence some parte of his merits, then arrogate to muche unto him. Bycause Goodnes it selfe, when it excedeth muche, is ever envide of some. And you may be sure, they that embase them selves thus beyond measure, refusing that worship and honour that is but duely their owne of very right: shewe more pride in this contempte, then they that usurpe those things, that are not so due unto them. So y^t a man perchaunce, might saye, Giotto hath not deserved those Commendations y^t some beleve, in y^t he refused to be called Master: being not only a master but without doubt a singular and cunning master in his art in those dayes. But be it blame, or praise y^t he deserved: it is most sure, he that refuseth that which every man els doth hunt for: sheweth therin, he reproveth or contemneth the common opinion of men. And, to contemne the honour & renowne, which other men gape for so much, is but to glorie and magnifie him selfe above other. For asmuche as there is no man (without he be mad) will refuse and reject things that be deare and of price: unles hee be suche, as hathe plenty and store of those deare and deintie things.