13^ P ^'inters in the Reign cf Henry VIII. 



which are duplicates : a great part are ex- 

 ceedingly fine, * and in one refpedt prefer- 

 able to his finilhed pidlures, as they are 

 drawn in a bold and free manner : and 

 though they have little more than the out- 

 line, being drawn with chalk upon paper 

 ftained of a flefh colour, and fcarce fhaded 

 at all, there is a flrength and vivacity in 

 them equal to the molt perfe6l portraits. 

 The heads of Sir Thomas More, f biihop 

 Fifher, Sir Thomas Wyat, and Broke lord 



the colle£lion of king James II. publifhed by Bathoe in 

 quarto, 1758. In king Charles's catalogue they are faid 

 to be but fifty-four, and that they were bought of, not 

 given by, Monf. de Liencourt. 



* Some have been rubbed, and others traced over 

 with a pen on the outlines by fome unikillfuU hand. In 

 an old inventory belonging to the family of Lumley 

 mention was made of fuch a book in that family, 

 with a remarkable note, that it had belonged to Ed- 

 ward VI. and that the names of the perfons were writ- 

 ten on them by Sir John Cheke. Moll of the drawings 

 at Kenfmgton have names in an old band ; and the pro- 

 bability of their being written by a minifter of the 

 court who fo well knew the perfons reprefented, is an 

 addition to their value. 



f Richardfon the painter had another of thefe, which 

 was fold at his au6lion, and from whence Houbraken's 

 print among the illuftrious heads was taken. 



Cobham 



