Much of Cosimo’s influence and popularity, no doubt, arose from his generosity to men of letters. When Niccolò de’ Niccoli, “censor of the Latin tongue,” ruined himself by buying books, Cosimo opened an unlimited credit for him at his bank. After Niccoli’s death he paid his debts on the condition of being allowed to dispose of the collection of manuscripts, amounting to six hundred volumes. Four hundred he gave to the library of S. Marco, the rest he kept or distributed among friends. Cosimo also provided Tommaso Parentucelli, Bishop of Bologna, with what money he needed; a service that was well repaid when the Bishop became Pope, and made him his banker. Parentucelli catalogued de’ Niccoli’s library, and noted for Cosimo the books that were necessary to complete it. This catalogue Vespasiano declared to be indispensable to all collectors of books. When the Badia of Fiesole, certainly designed, if not actually built by Brunelleschi at Cosimo’s expense, was finished, he summoned Vespasiano, who has recorded their conversation: “One day, when I was in his room, he said to me, ‘What plan can you suggest for the formation of this library?’ I answered that to buy the books would be impossible, since they could not be purchased. ‘What, then, do you propose?’ he added. I told him they must be copied. He then asked me if I would undertake the business, and I replied that I was willing. He bade me begin at my leisure, saying that he left all to me, and he ordered that for the money needed day by day Don Arcangelo, at that time Prior of the monastery, should draw cheques upon his bank which would be honoured. After beginning the collection, since it was his will that it should be finished with all speed possible, and money was not lacking, I soon engaged forty-five copyists, and in twenty-two months provided two hundred volumes, following the admirable list furnished by Pope Nicholas V.”[5]