Smith, John: A catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French painters: in which is included a short biographical notice of the artists, with a copious description of their principal pictures : a statement of the prices at which such pictures have been sold at public sales on the continent and in England; a reference the the galleries and private collections in which a large portion are at present; and the names of the artists by whom they have been engraved; to which is added, a brief notice of the scholars & imitators of the great masters of the above schools (Band 9): Supplement (London: Smith and Son, 1842)

PETER PAUL RUBENS. 237
Letter the third, by the same to the same. Dated Louvaine,
Feb. 6, 1616-7.
“ Mr. Gage hath written to Rubens to know what he will
undertake concerninge the paintinge of those birds, wherein
you shall be advertised, but we are alredie out of doubt, but
that in other respects your Huntinge peece will be at least as
good as the other, which I think the Duke of Arscot
buyeth for one hundred Poundes, and which the Arch Duke
had bought long ere this, if anie roome of his House at
Brussells would have held it, excepting alwaies his great
Hall, which is yours or mine as much as his. But 1 verilie
thinke the Painter will not take anie thing lesse than your
chaine, especiallie if he cause the Birds to be painted by that
other master, and I rather doubt whether he will oblige
himself to that. Your Lordship shall know what he saieth as
soon as I know it, and I will governe myself for you as if it
were mine owne case.
“ As for the Picture of the Battaile which you desire, you
mistooke Mr. Gage, if you thinke he spake of tenne Pounds
as the price of it, for he and I caused a coppie of eleven feet
in length and eight feet in depth, as I remember, to be taken
for General Cecill, which cost twentie Pounds, though it were
drawne not by Franck, who was the first Master, but by
another; soe as herin your Lordship must resolve eyther to
spende more, or to content yourself with a coppie in small
volume.”

Letter the fourth, by the same to the same. Dated Lou-
vaine, February 2-5, 1616-7.
“ I have seen at last the answeare of Rubens to Mr. Gage,
which is precisely thus : He will not make the lesser Hunt-
inge peece for lesse then your Lordship’s chaine. Concerninge
the causinge of anie part therof to be made by Snyder that
other famous Painter, your Lordship and I have been in an