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determined not to countenance by his official position measures which he disapproved,-obtained permission to resign, and retired to his house in Chelsea. But private life was not to permit him to escape. The King obtained his divorce, and married Boleyn. By an act of Parliament in March 1534, an oath of adherance to the act which vested the succession in the issue of Anne Boleyn, and of renunciation of the Pope was imposed. More refused to take the oath. He was committed to the Tower, April 17, 1535; indicated for High Treason on July 1st, and executed July 6th.

Sir Thomas More and Holbein.

No man can be held more responsible for that mighty series of English portraits from the hands of Holbein in the first half of the 16th Century, than Sir Thomas More. Holbein came to England in 1526 with letters of recommendation to Sir Thomas from Erasmus, his great friend in Basle. More received him and made him his guest in his house at Chelsea, and set him to work to paint, not only his own portrait, but those of his family and friends. He introduced him at Court and to Henry VIII, at a time when no man in England exercised more power and influence, or stood higher in the favor of the King. His portrait of More was painted in 1527, when he was at the age of 49; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Privy Councillor and Member of the House of Commons. Beside the portrait in oil, there are two chalk drawings of him by Holbein in the Royal Collection at Windsor; the earlier one being the study for the portrait. Holbein returned to Basle in 1528. Among the celebrated canvases painted by him during this, his