ters with the Duke, and had besought him that he should favour
the study of these noble arts, even as he had favoured the study of
letters by reopening the University of Pisa, creating a college for
scholars, and making a beginning with the Florentine Academy; and he
found him as ready to assist and favour that enterprise as he could have
desired. After these things, the Servite Friars, having thought better
over the matter, came to a resolution, which they made known to the
Company, that they would not have their chapter-house used by them save
for holding festivals, offices, and burials, and would not have their
convent disturbed by the Company's meetings and assemblies, or in any
other way. Of which Giorgio having spoken with the Duke, demanding some
place from him, his Excellency said that he had thought of providing
them with one wherein they might not only be able to erect a building
for the Company, but also have room enough to work and demonstrate their
worth. And shortly afterwards he wrote through M. Lelio Torelli to the
Prior and Monks of the Angeli, giving them to understand that they were
to accommodate the above-named Company in the temple that had been begun
in their monastery by Filippo Scolari, called Lo Spano. The monks
obeyed, and the Company was provided with certain rooms, in which they
assembled many times with the gracious leave of those fathers, who
received them sometimes even in their own chapter-house with much
courtesy. But the Duke having been informed afterwards that some of
those monks were not altogether content that the Company's building
should be erected in their precincts, because the monastery would be
encumbered thereby, and the above-named temple, which the craftsmen said
that they wished to fill with their works, would do very well as it was,
so far as they were concerned, his Excellency made it known to the men
of the Academy, which had already made a beginning and had held the
festival of S. Luke in that temple, that the monks, so he understood,
were not very willing to have them in their house, and that therefore he
would not fail to provide them with another place. The same Lord Duke
also said, like the truly magnanimous Prince that he is, that he wished
not only always to favour that Academy, but also to be himself its
chief, guide, and protector, and that for that reason he would appoint
year by year a Lieutenant who might be present in his stead at all their
meetings. Acting