The narrative may be broken off here to note that Holbein, who remained in London throughout April and May, engaged, among other things, upon the full-length portrait of the Duchess of Milan, received, on the 29th of the latter month, the grant of a royal licence to export “600 tuns of beer.” It runs as follows: “Hans Holbeyn, the King’s servant. Licence to buy and export 600 tuns of beer. _Del._ Westminster, 29th May 30 Hen. VIII.”[297] The painter was evidently prepared, when the opportunity arose, to engage in small commercial speculations in order to augment his income, as was the case with more than one of his brother artists attached to Henry’s court. Thus, in April 1531, Luke Hornebolt received a licence to export 400 quarters of barley,[298] and Anthony Toto, “the King’s painter,” was granted one in April 1541,[299] exactly similar to Holbein’s, for the exporting of 600 tuns of beer. Again, Alard Plumier, “the King’s jeweller,” in March 1542,[300] obtained grants for importing 400 tuns of Toulouse woad and Gascon wine, and exporting 400 tuns of beer; while, as already mentioned, Holbein’s friend and compatriot, Niklaus Kratzer, the King’s astronomer, received a very similar licence in October 1527.[301] Footnote 297: _C.L.P._, vol. xiii. pt. i. 1099 and 1115(65). Footnote 298: _C.L.P._, vol. v. 220(21). Footnote 299: _C.L.P._, vol. xvi. 779(18). Footnote 300: _C.L.P._, vol. xvii. 220(3). Footnote 301: _C.L.P._, vol. iv. pt. ii. 3540(28). Henry rose promptly to the bait of Louise of Guise as a wife in place of her elder sister, now unattainable, and as usual no time was wasted. On the 3rd of June he despatched Philip Hoby and a painter to Havre to obtain the lady’s portrait. This we learn from a letter of Castillon’s to Montmorency, dated June 4th, describing an interview between the Duke of Norfolk and the ambassador’s “secretaire a cachetter” respecting the suggested marriage, which concludes with the following passage: “Finally he (Norfolk) said that yesterday he (Henry) despatched the gentleman, who wanted to go to see” (“vouloit aller”; Kaulek reads “souloit”) “Madame de Longueville, to Hâvre de Grâce to see Mademoiselle de Guyse; for a Scotchman has come hither who has said he wonders at the King of Scots taking a widow rather than a young girl, her sister, the most beautiful creature that ever he saw.”[302] In the same letter Castillon again urges that portraits of two or three of the ladies mentioned in his previous despatch should be sent as quickly as possible, as the matter is pressing. In this document there is no reference to Hoby by name, nor mention of any painter accompanying him; nor is there any entry in the King’s Book of Payments as to any expenses paid for such a journey either to Hoby or any other special envoy. Hoby had paid a visit to France earlier in the year in connection with his master’s matrimonial affairs. He had been sent over in February, at about the