226 THE POETRAITS OF JOHN KNOX. where the slightest intimation. But one little fact, due to the indefatigable scrutiny and great knowledge of Mr. David Laing, seems worthy of notice. This is an excerpt from the Scottish Royal Treasurer's ac- counts, of date, Junij 1581 (one of the volumes not yet printed) : ' Itiniy To Adrianc Yaensoun, Fleming painter, for ' twa picturis painted be him, and send ' {sent) ^ to
- Theodorus Besa, conforme to ane precept as the
' samin producit upon compt beris 8/ 10s ' (145. 2d. sterling). The It/m and Adrianc indicate a clerk of great ignorance. In Painters' Dictionaries there is no such name as Vaensoun; but there is a famous enough Vansomer, or even family or clan of Yansomers, natives of Antwerp ; one of whom, Paulus Vansomer, is well known to have painted with great acceptance at King James's Court in England (from 1606 to 1620). He died here in 1621 ; and is buried in St.- Martin's-in-the-Fields : Exlmkis pictor. It is barely possible this ' Fleming painter ' may have been some individual of these Vansomers ; but of course the fact can never be ascertained. Much more interesting
