Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/128

116 might be impelled to further efforts and acquirements bj an honourable and commendable emulation.

Now Giorgio had meanwhile made mention of these matters to the Duke, begging him to favour and promote the study of those noble Arts (as he had done that of Letters, by the re-opening of the University of Pisa, by the institution of a College for students, and by the establishment of the Florentine Academy), when Vasari found His Excellency perfectly well disposed to favour the undertaking, insomuch that nothing better could be desired.

But some time afterwards the Servite Monks, having thought further of the business, resolved, and gave the Company to understand as much, that they would not permit their Chapter-house to be used for any other purpose than those of holding festivals, hearing mass, and burying the dead; in regard to the assemblies and sittings, therefore, the monks declared that they would have no proceeding of the kind in their convent.

Of all this Giorgio Vasari then spoke to the Duke, requesting him to bestow a place of assembly on the Company, whereunto His Excellency replied that he had been thinking of providing one for them, where they might not only establish their Brotherhood, but might also have space enough, to give evidence of their ability in the works which they might execute therein. A short time afterwards, therefore, the Duke wrote to Messer Lelio Torelli, to the Prior, and to the Monks of the Angeli, giving them to understand that they were to accommodate the aforesaid Company in the 'Temple which had been commenced in their monastery by Filippo Scolari, called Lo Spano. The monks obeyed, and the Company was furnished with certain rooms, wherein they assembled many times with the good favour of those fathers, who received them even in their chapter-house also on several occasions and with infinite courtesy.

It chanced, nevertheless, at no very distant period, that some of the monks showed themselves to be by no means satisfied at this assemblage of the Company within their