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do beleeve all constantly： onely one thing troubleth me much； and
maketh me very compassionate of you； and of all these holy Fathers
your brethren； perceiving in what wofull and wretched estate you
will be； when you shall come into another world。 What words are these；
quoth the Inquisitor？ And why art thou moved to such compassion of us？
O good Sir； saide the man； do you remember the wordes in the Gospell
this morning； You shall receive an hundred for one？ That is verie true
replyed the Inquisitor； but what mooveth thee to urge those words？
I will tell you Sir； answered the plain fellow； so it might please
you not to be offended。 Since the time of my resorting hither； I
have daily seene many poore people at your doore； and （out of your
abundance） when you and your Brethren have fed sufficiently； every one
hath had a good messe of Pottage： now Sir； if for every dishfull
given； you are sure to receive an hundred againe； you will all be
meerely drowned in pottage。 Although the rest （sitting at the Table
with the Inquisitor） laughed heartily at this jest； yet he found
himselfe toucht in another nature； having hypocritically received for
one poore offence； above three hundred peeces of Gold； and not a mite
to be restored againe。 But fearing to be further disclosed； yet
threatning him with another Processe in law； for abusing the words of
the Gospel； he was content to dismisse him for altogither； without
any more golden greasing in the hand。
THE FIRST DAY； THE SEVENTH NOVELL
APPROVING； THAT IT IS MUCH UNFITTING FOR A PRINCE； OR GREAT
PERSON； TO BEE COVETOUS； BUT RATHER TO BE LIBERALL TO
ALL MEN
Bergamino； by telling a tale of a skilfull man； named Primasso；
and of an Abbot of Clugni； honestly checked a new kinde of
Covetousnesse； in Mayster Can de la Scala。
The courteous demeanor of Madam Aemilia； and the quaintnesse of
her discourse； caused both the Queene； and the rest of the company； to
commend the invention of carrying the Crosse； and the golden
oyntment appointed for pennance。 Afterward； Philostratus； who was in
order to speake next； began in this manner。
It is a commendable thing （faire Ladies） to hit a But that never
stirreth out of his place： but it is a matter much more admirable；
to see a thing suddainely appearing； and sildome or never frequented
before； to bee as suddenly hit by an ordinary Archer。 The vicious
and polluted lives of Priests； yeeldeth matter of it selfe in many
things； deserving speech and reprehension； as a true But of wickednes；
and well worthy to be sharply shot at。 And therefore； though that
honest meaning man did wisely； in touching Master Inquisitor to the
quicke； with the hypocriticall charity of Monkes and Friars； in giving
such things to the poore； as were more meete for Swine； or to be worse
throwne away； yet I hold him more to be commended； who （by occasion of
a former tale； and which I purpose to relate） pleasantly reprooved
Master Can de la Scala； a Magnifico and mighty Lord； for a sudden
and unaccustomed covetousnesse appearing in him； figuring by other
men； that which hee intended to say of him； in manner following。
Master Can de la Scala； as fame ranne abroad of him in all places；
was （beyond the infinite favours of Fortune towards him） one of the
most notable and magnificent Lords that ever lived in Italy； since the
daies of Fredericke the second； Emperor。 He determining to procure a
very solemne assembly at Verona； and many people being met there
from divers places； especially Gentlemen of all degrees； suddenly
（upon what occasion I know not） his minde altred； and hee would not
goe forward with his intention。 Most of them he partly recompenced
which were come thither； and they dismissed to depart at their
pleasure； one onely man remained unrespected； or in any kinde sort
sent away； whose name was Bergamino； a man very pleasantly disposed；
and so wittily readie in speaking and answering； as none could
easily credit it； but such as heard him； and although his recompence
seemed over…long delayed； yet hee made no doubt of a beneficiall
ending。
By some enemies of his； Master Can de la Scala was incensed； that
whatsoever he gave or bestowed on him； was as ill imployed and utterly
lost； as if it were throwne into the fire； and therefore he neither
did or spake any thing to him。 Some few dayes being passed over； and
Bergamino perceiving； that hee was neither called； nor any account
made of； notwithstanding many manly good parts in him； observing
beside； that hee found a shrewd consumption in his purse； his Inne；
horses； and servants； being chargeable to him； he began to grow
extremely melancholly； and yet hee attended in expectation day by day；
as thinking it farre unfitting for him； to depart before he was bidden
farewell。
Having brought with him thither three goodly rich garments； which
had beene given him by sundrie Lords； for his more sightly
appearance at this great meeting； the importunate Host being greedie
of payment； first he delivered him one of them； and yet not halfe
the score being wiped off； the second must needes follow； and
beside； except he meant to leave his lodging； hee must live upon the
third so long as it would last； till hee saw what end his hopes
would sort too。 It fortuned； during the time of living thus upon his
last refuge； that hee met with Maister Can one day at dinner； where he
presented himselfe before him； with a discontented countenance：
which Maister Can well observing； more to distaste him； then take
delight in any thing that could come from him； he sayd。 Bergamino； how
cheerest thou？ Thou art very melancholly； I prythee tell us why？
Bergamino suddenly； without any premeditation； yet seeming as if he
had long considered thereon； reported this Tale。
Sir； I have heard of a certaine man； named Primasso； one skilfully
learned in the Grammar； and （beyond all other） a very witty and
ready versifier： in regard whereof； he was so much admired； and
farre renowned； that such as never saw him； but onely heard of him；
could easily say； this is Primasso。 It came to passe； that being
once at Paris； in poore estate； as commonly he could light on no
better fortune （because vertue is slenderly rewarded； by such as
have the greatest possessions） he heard much fame of the Abbot of
Clugni； a man reputed （next to the Pope） to be the richest Prelate
of the Church。 Of him he heard wonderfull and magnificent matters；
that he alwayes kept an open and hospitable Court； and never made
refusall of any （from whence soever hee came or went） but they did
eate and drinke freely there； provided； that they came when the
Abbot was set at the Table。 Primasso hearing this； and being an
earnest desirer to see magnificent and vertuous men； hee resolved to
goe see this rare bounty of the Abbot； demanding how far he dwelt from
Paris？ Being answered； about some three Leagues thence。 Primasso
made account； that if he went on betimes in the morning； he should
easily reach thither before the houre for dinner。
Being instructed in the way； and not finding any to walke along with
him； fearing； if he went without some furnishment； and should stay
long there for his dinner； he might （perhaps） complaine of hunger：
he therefore carried three loaves of bread with him； knowing that he
could meet with water every where； albeit he used to drinke but
little。 Having aptly conveyed his bread about him； he went on his
journy； and arrived at the Lord Abbots Court； an indifferent while
before dinner time： wherefore entering into the great Hall； and so
from place to place； beholding the great multitude of Tables；
bountifull preparation in the Kitchin； and what admirable provision
there was for dinner； he said to himselfe； Truly this man is more
magnificent then fame hath made him； because shee speakes too
sparingly of him。
While thus he went about； considering on all these things very
respectively； he saw the Maister of the Abbots Houshold （because
then it was the houre of dinner） command water to be brought for
washing hands； so everie one sitting down at the Tatle； it fell to the
lot of Primasso； to sit directly against the doore； whereat the
Abbot must enter into the Hall。 The custome in this Court was such；
that no manner of Foode should be served to any of the Table； untill
such time as the Lord Abbot was himselfe set： whereupon； every thing
being fit and ready； the Master of the Houshold went to tell his Lord；
that nothing now wanted but his onely presence。
The Abbot comming from his Chamber to enter the Hall； looking
about him； as hee was wont to doe； the first man hee saw was Primasso；
who being but in homely habite； and he having not seene him before
to his remembrance； a present bad conceite possessed his braine；
that he never saw an unworthier person； saying within himselfe： See
how I give my goods away to bee devoured。 So returning backe to his
Chamber againe； commaunded the doore to be made fast； demaunding of
every man neere about him； if they knew the base Knave that sate
before his entrance into the Hall； and all his servants answered no。
Primasso being extreamely hungry； with trava