THE CERTOSA OF FLORENCE 
may practise different trades, and for spacious gardens 
where they may take recreation. Annexed to the 
monastery was a noble building, with battlements 
and a quadrangle, destined to receive fifty scholars 
with professors and lecturers, for whose use Nic- 
colo had formed a large library of manuscripts, 
but this institution was unfortunately not kept up 
by the Grand Seneschal’s heirs. What, however, 
occupied his attention more than all at this time was 
the building of a house adjoining the monastery, 
which he intended as a residence for himself. He 
dwells with the greatest delight and affection on this 
his “ dear abitaculo , from which he would not part, 
for all the lands round Florence,” and gives the minu¬ 
test directions for the building of kitchen, loggia, 
halls, and even chimney-pieces. Everything is to be 
broad and spacious, the garden as beautiful as it is 
possible to make it, the vaulting of the rooms very 
lofty, since in his eyes the finest feature in a building 
is great height and space. In all his letters he presses 
on the completion of his “ abitaculo ,” and expresses 
his anxiety that all should be ready when the time 
comes for him to leave public life. Then, if only 
God grant him this desire of his heart, he hopes to 
retire there and spend his last days unvexed by the 
clash of arms and the turmoil of the world, in this 
peaceful retreat, with only the company of the monks, 
217 
