Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/123

Rh did some other young girls belonging to his native place, or to the neighbourhood of Montorsoli, and furthermore commanded that a sum of 1000 crowns should be given to that nephew, Angelo, of whom we have before made mention as having been left in Rome, for the purpose of buying him a Knighthood of the Lily: he also disbursed a considerable amount of money for two Hospitals in Naples, giving to each a large sum in alms; and to his own Monastery of the Servites he left 4000 crowns to buy a farm, endowing those Monks with that likewise which had belonged to his own forefathers at Montorsoli, but on condition that twenty-five crowns yearly should be paid to each of two of his nephews, who were like himself monks of that Order, with certain other charges, of which we shall make further mention hereafter.

All these matters being settled, Giovann’ Agnolo presented himself openly in Rome, and resumed the habit of his Order, to the infinite delight of his brethren, and more especially of Maestro Zaccheria.

He then repaired to Florence, where he was also received with indescribable rejoicing and gladness, by his kinsfolk and friends. But although the Frate had now determined to devote the remainder of his days to God and to spend his life in the service of Our Lord, remaining quietly at peace in the enjoyment of a Knight’s revenue, which he had reserved to himself; yet this was not so easily effected as he had supposed it might be. For being pressingly invited to repair to Bologna by Messser Giulio Bovio, the uncle of Vascone Bovio, to the end that he might direct the construction of the High Altar in the church of the Servites, with a richly decorated tomb, he could not refuse to comply with that entreaty, and the less as the work to be performed was for a church of his own Order.

The above-named altar was to be of marble, and to stand entirely isolated, the tomb was in like manner to be encrusted with marble, and furthermore to be enriched with elaborate ornaments of vari-coloured stones. Giovann’ Agnolo re-