Page:On the Vatican Library of Sixtus IV.djvu/34

 repairs to old desks. These frames were painted by one of Melozzo dà Forli's workmen.

The desks for the fourth room or Bibliotheca pontificia were ordered in 1480–81. The workmen employed were Giovannino and his brother Marco.

Master Giovannino of Florence and Master Marco his brother, a carpenter, received xxv ducats in part payment for the desks which are being made in the library now added by His Holiness our Master, 18 July, 1480. These workmen received 100 ducats up to 7 April, 1481, but the account was not then settled. Up to this period the bookcases had cost the large sum of 580 ducats or, if the value of the ducat be taken at six shillings and sixpence, £188 10s. of our money.

I will next notice some of the other purchases belonging to this part of my subject.

The purchase of chains began in January 1476.

Item solutum est bancho de Medicis in Mediolano eadem die [22 Jan. 1476] ducatum (sic) pro cathenis emptis ad usum bibliothecæ et b..

Item solvi pro vectura octo balletorum catenarum ad usum Bibliothecæ ex Mediolano Romam avectarum ducatos x et b[ononenos], computatis etiam gabellis quas solvit in multis locis, maxime vero in terris Ducis Mediolani, die secunda Aprilis, 1476.

Dedi calonibus qui portarunt catenas et reportarunt a magistro Joanne fabro carlenos quinque, reficere n[am] anulos oportuit (sic) qui parvi erant die maii.

Item dedi eisdem carlenos qui portarunt ferramenta quibus catenæ innituntur, eadem die.

Dedi eidem Francisco fabro lignario pro catenis librorum e Mediolano avectis ducatos, erant autem docenæ centum , dedi autem