tainted with the Roman heresy was openly avowed. Wood says, that he lost the favour of many of his hearers, who supposed that by that journey he had been tinged with popery *.

He remained " among those he loved" until 1679, when he was selected to fill the situation of chaplain to the Princess of Orange, in whose deportment, says Burnet, "there was a sweetness that charmed, and an exactness in piety and virtue that made her a pattern to all that saw her." The temper of the prince, however, was not equally conciliating, and Hooper, who had been first recommended to the appointment by Bishop Morley, continued at the court of the Hague only a brief period, Ken, it was hoped, would have succeeded better, but Mrs. Prowse, the daughter of Dr. Hooper, observes in her memorandum, that "he agreed worse." Hawkins

says

that a "consequential act of his singular zeal for the honour of his country, in behalf of a young lady, so exasperated the prince, that he warmly threatened to turn him from the service; which the doctor resisting, and begging leave of the princess, (whom to his death he distinguished by the title of his mistress,) warned himself from the service, till by the entreaty of the prince himself, he was courted to his former post and respect; and when the year expired he returned to England +.”

66

The following is the strange version of the story given in Spence's Anecdotes. Bishop Ken went to Rome with Dr. Walton; part of his design was to inquire into the Romish religion, and if he found it sound, to profess it and continue at Rome. He returned about 1675, after six years' stay abroad. In King James's reign, upon his complimenting him on some passages in his writings for their nearness of opinions, he told the king what little occasion he had to do so, that he had once been inclined to his religion, but that the New Testament and his journey to Rome had quite cured him."-P. 329, ed. Singer.

+ See Bowles' Life of Ken, vol. ii. p. 45, &c.

In 1684, he sailed with Lord Dartmouth in the expedition sent out to destroy the fortifications of Tangier, a town on the coast of Africa, and to bring home the garrison. It is not easy to assign Ken's motive for undertaking so long and fatiguing a voyage, unless we suppose him to have been actuated by benevolent feelings towards the suffering victims of African slavery; a belief encouraged by the constant gentleness and humanity of his disposition. During the voyage he composed an epic poem called 'Edmond,' founded upon the history of a king of the East Angles. The original M.S., still in existence, is said to be written with remarkable neatness, and the numerous corrections attest the diligence of the writer. He had been already appointed chaplain to the king, with peculiar expressions of royal favour, and when, on the translation of Bishop Mew to the diocese of Winchester, the friends of Ken applied in his behalf for the vacant see of Bath and Wells, the reply of the monarch was highly gratifying. He assured them that "Dr. Ken should succeed, but that he designed it should be from his own peculiar appointment."

He was accordingly consecrated, January 25, 1684. Thus was the simple-minded shepherd caught up, as he expressed it, from his low "cottage on the plain" to the "pastoral chair," which none of his predecessors had ever occupied with greater meekness or humility*. But

Ken uses nearly the same words in the dedication of his Exposition of the Church Catechism to the inhabitants of his diocese. Since then the providence of God, who is wont to glorify his strength in the weakness of the instrument he uses, has caught me up from among the meanest herdsmen unto the pastoral throne, and has been pleased to commit you to my care."

It appears from Burnet, vol. ii. p. 429, fourth ed., that Ken was appointed bishop, before the expedition to Tangier. The expedition was sent out September, 1683. The garrison was brought back to

before the necessary forms of his appointment were completed, he was summoned to the death-bed of his royal master. Ken acted in that trying hour with great earnestness and zeal; remaining in the king's chamber, we are told by Hawkins, without intermission, for at least three days and nights; watching at proper intervals to suggest pious thoughts and proper ejaculations on so serious an occasion; "in which time the Duchess of Portsmouth coming into the room, the bishop prevailed with his majesty to have her removed, and took the occasion of representing the injury done to the queen, so effectually, that his majesty was induced to send for her, and, asking pardon, had the satisfaction of forgiveness before he died." This is the account of a friend; but the testimony of Bishop Burnet is equally favourable. "Ken," he says, "applied himself to the awakening the king's He spoke with great elevation both of thought and expression, like a man inspired, as those who were present told me. He resumed the matter often, and pronounced many short ejaculations and prayers which affected all that were present, except him that was most concerned, who seemed to take no notice of him, and made no answer to him."

conscience.

In the Winter of 1683, he lost his excellent friend Isaac Walton. I have always regarded the character of this most amiable of anglers with affectionate esteem. His old age did not upbraid the green; the same passion for Nature, and his favourite amusement, cheered him in the winter of his days. Writing, in his eighty-third year, to his friend and brother angler, Cotton, he talks of beginning a pilgrimage to him in the ensuing month of

England in the early part of 1684. The see of Winchester became vacant during the voyage.--BOWLES.

May. A love of God and of his works had kept the heart of the old man young. Even when we have no partiality for his pursuits, we delight in his company, and "stretch our legs" with him up Tottenham Hill, and drink a morning draught together at the "Thatched House," in Hodsden; or sit under the "high honeysuckle hedge," listening to the humble and affecting strains of religious wisdom for ever flowing from his lips. careless or unthoughtful observer of nature. song of the lark, the blackbird, and the throstle, he draws something to remind us of bowers where the leaf never fades; and in the humblest flower hanging over the field-bird's nest, he finds an emblem of serenity and joy.

He is no

From the

To Walton the high praise may be given of having nourished his piety by his amusements; and he has taught us by his example, when we would "beget content and increase confidence in the power, and wisdom, and providence of Almighty God," to walk "the meadows by some gliding stream, and then contemplate the lilies that take no care, and those very many other various little creatures, that are not only created, but fed, man knows not how, by the goodness of the God of Nature, and therefore trust in Him

* "

On the accession of James, new instruments were prepared for Ken's introduction to his see, and the sum necessary to discharge the expenses was advanced to him by the nephew of his patron Morley.

Who can contemplate Ken in his new dignity without delight! "Here," says his poetical biographer, "was the castellated abode of peace and prayer, separate from the crowd, surrounded with its still moat, and as it were,

* See his Works.

sheltered from the world and its tumults under the wing of the venerable cathedral. With an enclosed garden commanding from its embattled walls the rich scenery of its hills and champaign, and the beautiful Vale of Glastonbury, crowned by its distant Tor. The episcopal domain extended to Banwell, commanding the sweep of the Severn Sea, bordering the territory of Ken Court, the ancient possessions of the more prosperous part of the family at the time when the father of Ken, little dreaming that his son should ever there or thus be placed, followed the drudgery of his office in the smoke of London."

His charity increased with his income; his poorer relations were liberally and affectionately assisted, and when, upon one occasion, he received a fine of four thousand pounds, a considerable portion of it was distributed among the indigent French Protestants. He also projected the establishment of a workhouse at Wells, but failed through the indifference of the influential inhabitants. But Ken well knew that pecuniary relief indiscriminately administered was productive of no lasting benefit.

Hawkins says that he had a very happy way of mixing his spiritual with his corporal alms*, and that when any poor person asked charity of him, it was his practice to question him as to his knowledge of the Lord's Prayer, or the Creed; for his experience had taught him that the deplorable ignorance of persons arrived at mature years, rendered all efforts for their improvement very nearly fruitless; and he said that he would try to "lay a foundation to make the next generation better."

Ken applied the same expression to Lady Maynard, in his sermon on her death.