been made of them from that manuscript. After the death of Jane Seymour, the King was not a little perplexed in his choice of her successor: the Duchess Dowager of Milan was first thought of, but she is said to have declined that honor, because nature had not prepared her for it, by endowing her with two heads! Walpole informs us, that the first of these entries refers to Holbein's having been sent to paint her portrait in December, 1538: December, A^{o}. 30 Henry VIII. 1538. "Item, Payde to Hans Holbyn, one of the kingis paynters, by the kingis commaundement, certefyed by my lord pryviseales lettre x_li._ for his costs and chargs at this tyme sent abowte certeyn his gracs affares into the parties of High Burgony, by way of his gracs rewarde, x_li._" That the painter was abroad at Christmas, in that year, is evident from the entries of payments then made to the royal establishment; "Item, for Hans Holbyn, paynter, nihil." A letter from Nicholas Wotton, who with the Richard Bearde there mentioned, were deputed to negociate the marriage between Henry and Ann of Cleves, illustrates the next entry; for it proves that "his Grace's affairs" meant to paint the portrait of that lady, and of her sister, Amelia. Wotton's letter, which has been printed by Mr. Ellis,[140] is dated at Duren, the 11th of August, 1539: after describing Ann, he says, "your Grace's servante, Hanze Albein, hath taken the effigies of my Ladye Anne and the Lady Amelye, and hathe expressyd theyr imaiges verye lyvelye." July, 31 Henry VIII. A^{o}. 1539. "Item, to Mr. Richard Bearde, one of the gromes of the kingis privichamber, and Hans Holbyn, paynter, by like lettre sent into the parties of High Almayne, upon certain his Gracis affaires for the costes and chardgis of them both, xl_li._; And to Hans Holben for the prepairacion of such things as he is appoynted to carie with him, xiij_li._ vj_s._ viij_d._, in all, the somme of liij_li._ vj_s._ viij_d._" The history of that portrait, which, however "lyvelye," was not faithful, though such the ambassadors obviously meant to describe it, has been told by Walpole and Granger, and is repeated by Mr. Ellis. After that time several entries occur of the payment of Holbein's quarterly wages, of some of which the annexed are copies: "Item, to Hans Holbyn, vij_li._ x_s._" In 1539 he was paid half a year's wages in advance; "Item, payde to Hans Holbyn, the kyngis paynter, in advauncement of his wages, for one half yere beforehand, the same half yere accompted and reconnyd from Michaelmas last past, the somme of xv_li._" At Michaelmas, 32 Hen. VIII. A^{o}. 1540, he is thus mentioned; "Item, for Hans Holbyn, paynter, ii_li._ q^{r} [~p]us [p-] warr." At Christmas, in that year; "Item, for Hans Holbyn, paynter, ii_li._ q^{r} [~p]us manibus." At Midsummer, 1541, after his name "nihil q^{r} [~p]us" occurs. On another occasion his wages were also paid in advance;