Sometime heeretofore, there dwelt in our Citie, a Knight named Signior _Thebaldo_, who (according as some report) issued from the Family of _Lamberti_, but others derive him of the _Agolanti_; guiding (perhaps) their opinion heerein, more from the traine of children, belonging to the saide _Thebaldo_ (evermore equall to that of the _Agolanti_) then any other matter else. But setting aside, from which of these two houses he came, I say, that in his time he was a very welthy Knight, & had three Sonnes; the first being named _Lamberto_, the second _Thebaldo_, & the third _Agolanto_, all goodly and gracefull youths: howbeit, the eldest had not compleated eighteene yeares, when Signior _Thebaldo_ the father deceased, who left them all his goods and inheritances. And they, seeing them selves rich in readie monies and revennewes, without any other government then their owne voluntary disposition, kept no restraint upon their expences, but maintained many servants, and store of unvalewable horses, beside Hawkes and Hounds, with open house for all commers; and not onely all delights else fit for Gentlemen, but what vanities beside best agreed with their wanton and youthfull appetites. Not long had they run on this race, but the treasures lefte them by their Father, began greatly to diminish; and their revennewes suffised not, to support such lavish expences as they had begun: but they fell to engaging and pawning their inheritances, selling one to day, and another to morrow, so that they saw themselves quickly come to nothing, and then poverty opened their eyes, which prodigality had before closed up. Heereupon, _Lamberto_ (on a day) calling his Brethren to him, shewed them what the honours of their Father had beene, to what height his wealth amounted, and now to what an ebbe of poverty it was falne, onely thorow their inordinate expences. Wherefore hee counselled them, (as best he could) before further misery insulted over them; to make sale of the small remainder that was left, and then to betake themselves unto some other abiding, where fairer Fortune might chance to shine uppon them.