112 Painters in the Reign of Henry VI 1 1. 



after eight or ten years could get no other 

 anfwer, than that it would coft a great 

 deal of trouble to feek after thofe things, 

 and that he fhould expedt to be well paid. 

 The ftory is, that one day as Holbein was 

 privately drawing fome lady's pi6lure for 

 the king, a great lord forced himfelf into 

 the chamber. Holbein threw him down 

 ftairs ; the peer cried out j Holbein bolted 

 himfelf in, efcaped over the top of the 

 houfe, and running diredlly to the king, fell 

 on his knees, and befought his majefty 

 to pardon him, without declaring die of- 

 fence. The king promifed to forgive him 

 if he would tell the truth ; but foon began 

 to repent, faying he ihould not eafily over- 

 look fuch infults, and bad him wait in the 

 apartment 'till he had learned more of the 

 matter. Immediately arrived the lord with 

 his complaint, but finking the provocation. 

 At firll the monarch heard the ftory with 

 temper, but broke out, reproaching the 

 nobleman with his w^ant of truth, and add- 

 ing, " You have not to do v/ith Holbein, 

 but with me ; I tell you, of feven peafants 

 I can make as many lords, but not one 

 Holbein — begone, and remember, that if 



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