Master _Can de la Scala_, who was a man of good understanding, perceyved immediately (without any further interpretation) what _Bergamino_ meant by this morall, and smiling on him, saide: _Bergamino_, thou hast honestly expressed thy vertue and necessities, and justly reprooved mine avarice, niggardnesse, and base folly. And trust me _Bergamino_, I never felt such a fit of covetousness come upon me, as this which I have dishonestly declared to thee: and which I will now banish from me, with the same correction as thou hast taught mee. So, having payed the Host all his charges, redeeming also his robes or garments, mounting him on a good Gelding, and putting plenty of Crownes in his purse, hee referd it to his owne choise to depart, or dwell there still with him. _Guillaume Boursier, with a few quaint and familiar words, checkt the miserable covetousnesse of Signior_ Herminio de Grimaldi. The eight Novell. _Which plainly declareth, that a covetous Gentleman, is not worthy of any honour or respect._ Madam _Lauretta_, sitting next to _Philostratus_, when she had heard the witty conceite of _Bergamino_; knowing, that shee was to say somewhat, without injunction or command, pleasantly thus began. This last discourse (faire and vertuous company) induceth mee to tell you, how an honest Courtier reprehended in like manner (and nothing unprofitably) base covetousnesse in a Merchant of extraordinary wealth. Which Tale, although (in effect) it may seeme to resemble the former; yet perhaps, it will prove no lesse pleasing to you, in regard it sorted to as good an end. It is no long time since, that there lived in _Genes_ or _Geneway_, a Gentleman named Signior _Herminio de Grimaldi_, who (as every one wel knew) was more rich in inheritances, and ready summes of currant mony, then any other knowne Citizen in _Italy_. And as hee surpassed other men in wealth, so did he likewise excell them in wretched Avarice, being so miserably greedy and covetous, as no man in the world could be more wicked that way; because, not onely he kept his purse lockt up from pleasuring any, but denied needful things to himself, enduring many miseries & distresses, onely to avoide expences, contrary to the _Genewayes_ generall custome, who alwayes delighted to be decently cloathed, and to have their dyet of the best. By reason of which most miserable basenesse, they tooke from him the sir-name of _Grimaldi_, whereof hee was in right descended: and called him master _Herminio_ the covetous Mizer, a nickname very notably agreeing with his gripple nature.