1637. His father's family was of great antiquity, and had possessed a very plentiful fortune for many generations, having been known by the name of the Ken's, of Ken Place, an estate now in possession of the Right Hon. Earl Poulett, who descends from an heiress of the Ken's *. He was sent to school at Winchester college, where he contracted that friendship, so closely at length cemented, between him. self and that afterward most truly pious prelate, Dr. Francis Turner, late Bishop of Ely; and where his parts, application, and behaviour, were so well employed and observed, that he was elected to New College, Oxon; where he took his Bachelor of Arts degree, May 3, 1661; and his degree of Master of Arts, Jan. 21, 1664; Bachelor of Divinity, 1678; and Doctor of Divinity, June 30, 1679. But by reason he outlived all or most of his contemporaries, and that therefore little account of his behaviour in that place can be had, I shall not render this whole account suspicious, by inserting surmise, where I intend to advance nothing but what may evidently be made appear. I shall only add this, that, as soon as his circumstances would permit, he gave them upwards of one hundred pounds, as a small acknowledg ment for his education, and towards the erecting of their new building. He was from hence, on December 8, in the year 1666, chosen into the Society of Winchester, where his most exemplary goodness and piety did eminently exert it self; for that college being chiefly designed by its founder for a retired and studious life, what could a great and generous spirit propose, but the good of souls, and the glory of that God, to whom he constantly ascribed it, even in his most familiar letters. And, for this purpose, he kept a constant course of preaching at St. John's church, in the Soak, near Winton, (where there was no preaching minister, and which he therefore called his cure,) and brought many Ana. baptists to the Church of England, and baptized them himself. And that neither his study might be the aggressor on his hours of instruction, or what he judged his duty prevent his improvement, or both, his closet addresses to his God, he strictly accustomed himself to but one sleep, which often obliged him to rise at one or two o'clock in the morning, and sometimes sooner. And grew so habitual, that it continued with him almost to his last illness. And so lively and cheerful was his temper, that he would be very facetious and entertaining to his friends in the evening, even when it was perceived John, Lord Poulett, of Hinton St. George, married Christian, daughter and heir of Christopher Ken, of Ken in Com' Som' Esq. Dugd. Bar. that with difficulty he kept his eyes open; and then seemed to go to rest with no other purpose than the refreshing and enabling him with more vigour and cheerfulness to sing his Morning Hymn, as he then used to do to his lute, before he put on his clothes. Some time after he was fellow of Winchester college, Dr. George Morley, then Bishop of that diocese, made him his domestic chaplain, and presented him to the parsonage of Woodhay, in Hampshire, vacant by the removal of his tutor, Dr. Sharrock. And it was about this time he composed and published his Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Winchester Scholars. That prelate soon after, without any application made in his behalf, preferred him to the dignity of a prebendary in the cathedral Church of Winton; and he was installed accordingly, April 12, 1669. In which post he was taken notice of by King Charles the Second. In the year 1675, the year of jubilee, he travelled through Italy and to Rome; and upon his return within the same year he was often heard to say, that he had great reason to give God thanks for his travels, since, if it were possible, he returned rather more confirmed of the purity of the Protestant religion than he was before. And now that prince made choice of him to go with the Lord Dartmouth to the demolishing of Tangier; and at his return from thence, himself gave order he should be his chaplain. He was some time after this made chaplain to the Princess of Orange, who was at that time residing in Holland; in which post his most prudent behaviour and strict piety, gained him entire credit and high esteem with that princess: but a consequential act of his singular zeal for the honour of his country, in behalf of a young lady, so far exasperated the prince, that he very warmly threatened to turn him from the service; which the doctor resenting, and begging leave of the princess, (whom to his death he distinguished by the title of his mistress) warned himself from the service, and would not return to that court till, by the entreaty of the prince himself, he was courted to his former post and respect; consenting to continue there for one year longer, (during which time he was taken at least into a shew of great familiarity); and when that year expired, he returned for England. This was not unknown to the king, nor did he shew the least dislike to his behaviour; for when the see of Bath and Wells became vacant, by the removal of Dr. Peter Mews to Winton, the king himself stopped all attempts of Dr. Ken's friends, (who would of their own inclinations have applied in his behalf,) with this remarkable saying, that Dr. Ken should succeed, but that he de-, signed it should be from his own peculiar appointment. And accordingly the king him self gave order for a congedeslire to pass the seals for that purpose; and he was consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wells on St. Paul's day, in the year 1684. And this even just after his opinion, that a woman of ill repute ought not to be endured in the house of a clergyman, especially the king's chaplain, was publicly known. For at that time the king coming to Winton, and his harbinger having marked the doctor's house, which he held in right of his prebend, for the use of Mrs. Gwin, he absolutely refused her admittance, and she was forced to seek other lodgings. And now at this juncture it was, when that king's period of life drew near, his distemper seizing his head, and our bishop well knowing how much had been put off to that last point, and fearing the strength of his distemper would give him but little time, (as indeed it proved,) his duty urging him, he gave a close attendance by the royal bed, without any intermission, at least for three whole days and nights; watching at proper intervals to suggest pious and proper thoughts, and ejaculations, on so serious an occasion; in which time the Duchess of Portsmouth coming into the room, the bishop prevailed with his Majesry to have her removed, and took that occasion of representing the injury and injustice done to his queen so effectually, that his Majesty was induced to send for the queen, and asking pardon, had the satisfaction of her forgiveness before he died. The bishop having homely urged the necessity of a full, and prevailed, as is hoped, for a sincere repentance, several times proposed the administration of the holy sacrament: but although it was not absolutely rejected, it was yet delayed from time to time, till (I know not by what authority) the bishop, and all others present, were put out from the presence for about the space of half an hour, during which time, it has been suggested, that Father Huddleston was admitted to give extreme unction: and the interval between this and death was so short, that nothing concerning the bishop's behaviour happened, worthy of notice in this account. This close attendance the bishop thought so absolutely necessary, as thereupon to delay his admission to the temporalities of the see of Wells; so that, when King James came to the crown, new instruments were passed for that purpose, and he was accordingly in full possession. At this time, it was frequently said by many of eminence, who knew him well, that they never knew any person so able, and earnest to do good in such a station, as he was. He had a very happy way of mixing his spiritual with his corporal alms. When any poor person begged of him, he would examine whether he could say the Lord's Prayer, or the Creed; and he found REMEMBRANCER, No. 65. so much deplorable ignorance among the grown poor people, that he feared little good was to be done upon them but said, he would try, whether he could not lay a foundation, to make the next generation better. And this put him upon setting up many schools in all the great towns of his diocese, for poor children to be taught to read, and say their Catechism; and about this time, and for this purpose it was, that he wrote, and published, his Exposition on the Church-Catechism. And although it contained nothing, but what was strictly conformable to the doctrine of the Church of England, yet there being an expression in the first edition, which the Papists at that time laid hold of, as if it favoured their doctrine of Transubstantiation; he took particular care in the next edition, even in that reign, by altering the expression, to ascer tain the sense. By this method and management he engaged the ministers to be more careful in catechizing the children of their parishes; and they were by him furnished with a stock of necessary books for the use of children. And we may now judge, by the great and good success of the charity-schools, which are now so numerous, what great and good ends he at that time proposed. About this time also, he published his Prayers for the Use of the Bath. He went often in the summer time to some great parish, where he would preach twice, confirm and catechize; and when he was at home on Sundays, he would have twelve poor men, or women, to dine with him in his hall: always endeavouring, whilst he fed their bodies, to comfort their spirits, by some cheerful discourse, generally mixed with some useful instruction. And when they had dined, the remainder was divided among them, to carry home to their families. By his instruction and example, he, awed men into a sense of religion and duty. He often deplored the condition of the poor at Wells (who were very numerous). And as he was charitably disposed, so he was very earnest in contriving proper expedients of relief; and thought no design could better answer all the ends of charity, than the setting up a work-house in that place. But judging it not practicable without the advice, or at least the assistance, of the gentlemen, he therefore often met, and consulted with them; but not finding any suitable encouragement, he was forced to desist. In this he had a double view; to rescue the idle from vicious practice, and conversation; and the industrious, from the oppression of the tradesmen; who, to use his own expression, did grind the face of the poor, growing rich by their labour, and making them a very scanty allowance for their work. His conduct at the time of the rebellion under the Duke of Monmonth, had sufficiently confirmed king James in opinion of his duty and allegiance; insomuch, that although he daily relieved some hundreds of the rebel prisoners, then in Wells, daily praying with them in person; the king judging that it was only out of a principle of duty to distressed brethren, to save them from perishing both in body and soul, never so much as harboured any jealous thought of him: nay, so far did that king entertain hopes of his absolute obedience to his will and pleasure, that although many of his Sermons were framed against the church of Rome, yet it was thought worth while to attempt to gain him over to the interest of that party at court; but so ineffectually, that upon the preaching of one of the two sermons now published, and in the king's own chapel at White-Hall, (which seems wholly intended against both the popish and fanatic factions, then united at court;) and it being misrepresented to the king, (who had not been present at divine service) but sending for the Bishop, and closetting him on the occasion, received nothing in answer, but this fatherly reprimand; that if his majesty had not neglected his own duty of being present, his enemies had missed this opportunity of accusing him: whereupon he was dismissed. But although that prince did not mistake his integrity, yet certainly he was mistaken in him on a much more fatal occasion; for now came the dispensing power in play, and his majesty's declaration of indulgence, was strictly commanded to be read; when this Bishop was one of the seven, who openly opposed the reading it, suppressed those which were sent to him to be read in his diocese, and petitioned the king not to pursue, what was likely to prove so prejudicial both to Church and State: which petition being called treasonable, was made the occasion of committing him to the Tower, in order to a trial: all which being already well known, I shall no longer dwell on so grating a subject. But though he dared to disobey his sovereign, in order to preserve the purity of his religion; and the care of his flock was always nearest his heart; yet rather than violate his conscience by transferring his allegiance, he chose to leave both himself and them, to the protection of the Almighty. So when the Prince of Orange came over, and the Revolution was grounded on the abdication of king James, the Bishop retired; and as soon as king William was seated on the throne, and the oaths of allegiance were to be taken to him, he, for his refusal being deprived by the State, did relinquish his revenue, (though not his care) with as clear a conscience, and as generous a mind, as that by which it was once bestowed on him. At the time of his being made Bishop, Mr. Francis Morley, nephew to the forementioned Bishop, knowing how little he had provided for such an expence, as attends the entry and continuance in such a chair, most generously offered, and lent him a considerable sum to defray his expences, and furnish him with an equipage, as his station required: which he would often mention with a grateful acknowledgment, expressing a particular satisfaction, when he found himself in a condition to discharge the debt. And he was often by Dr. Thomas Cheyney (one of his chaplains, to whom I am obliged for many of the particulars which frame his account) observed to complain, that for this very reason no great matter was to be expected from him; as thinking himself obliged to be just, before he could be charitable. But here, if any should expect extravagance, in that having enjoyed such preferments he was still poor, it must be observed, that, if there can be an extravagant in good works, he was such, in that most excellent gift of charity. His whole fortune lying in his preferments, those of his relations who were necessitous, (but whom he could never regard the less for their being so) were a continual drain upon his revenue and he seemed to joy with those who lived in more plenty, not more for their own well-being, than that thereby he was at liberty to disperse the remainder of his income, to necessitous strangers. Which he always did with so open a bounty, that he became a common father to all the sons and daughters of affliction. His charity was so extensive, that having once, while in the See of Bath and Wells, received a fine of four thousand pounds, great part of it was given to the French Protestants; and so little regard had to future contingencies, that when he was deprived by the State, (which was not long after) all his effects, after the sale of all his goods, excepting his books, (which he never sold) would amount to no more than seven hundred pounds. Which with the ever to be acknowledged generosity of his noble friend, and eminent benefactor, procured him the enjoyment of a clear quarterly payment of twenty pounds, which that noble peer charged on part of his own estate; and which among many other, and greater favours, is thus thankfully acknowledged in the last will and testament of our grateful Bishop: (viz.) I leave and bequeath to the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Viscount Weymouth, in case he outlives me, all my books, of which his Lordskip has not the duplicates, as a memorial of my gratitude for his signal and continued favours. Besides which gift of books, he had in his life-time, both before and after deprivation, given several large catalogues to places that were popu lous, and had parochial libraries within his own diocese, He had an excellent genius for, and skill in music; and whenever he had convenient opportunities for it, he performed some of his devotional part of praise with his own compositions, which were grave and solemn. He had always a great relish for divine poesy, and in his retirement under this noble Lord's roof, he composed many excellent, useful, and pious pieces, which (together with one Epic Poem, which was written by him about the time of his Voyage to Tangier, and seems to have had his last hand) may soon be ready for the Press, if this specimen be well accepted. But now his public affairs giving room, and his cholic pains rendering him uncapable of more serious study, he applied himself so happily to this favourite entertainment, as thereby in some measure to palliate the acuteness of his pain, and, as is hoped and conceived, may give full satisfaction to his readers, by promoting their chief happiness, to the glory of God the giver. So close was his application to these studies, and so was his mind bent upon quietness, that during all the time of his retirement, and among all the attempts of, and clamours against those called Jacobites, in the reign of King William, he was never once disturbed in that quiet enjoyment of himself, and 'tis presumed, never suspected of any ill design; since never publicly molested, or privately rebuked. 'Tis true, he was once sent for by warrant, to appear before the Privy Council in the year 1696; but having the particular of that matter by me, left under his own hand, I think it best to refer the reader to it, as subjoined to the latter end of this account. That his opinion was not agreeable with such of the nonjurors, who were for continuing a separation, by private consecrations among themselves, may (should there be any good occasion) best be known by his answers to letters, written from men of learning, who conversed with him on that subject; and which he left behind him: and from what I must affirm, that it was on his request the present Bishop of Bath and Wells accepted of that See. And because some have attempted to detract from this good man, as if tainted with errors of popery, and not so stedfast to the doctrine of the Church of but likewise to adjoin a letter from the present Bishop of Sarum, written to him just before his deprivation, which together with our Bishop's answer, may not only shew that Bishop's opinion of the honour he had been to, and the service he had done the Church, but likewise the caution our Bishop used towards others, in regard to their taking the oaths, and his good wishes for the prosperity of our Church. My Lord, This gentleman who is presented to a living in your Lordship's Diocese came to me to receive institution but I have declined the doing of it and so have sent him over to your Lordship that you being satisfied with relation to him may order your Chancellor to do it I was willing to lay hold on this occasion to let your Lordship know that I intend to make no other use of the commission that was sent me than to obey any orders that you may send me in such things as my hand and seal may be necessary I am extremely concerned to see your Lordship so unhappily possessed with that which is likely to prove so fatal to the Church if we are deprived of one that has served in it with so much honour as you have done especially at such a time when there are fair hopes of the reforming of several abuses I am the more amazed to find your Lordship so positive because some have told myself that you had advised them to take that which you refuse yourself and others have told me that they read a pastoral Letter which you had prepared for your Diocese and were resolved to print it when you went to London, your Lordship it seems changed your mind there which gave great advantages to those who were so severe as to say that there was somewhat else than conscience at the bottom I take the liberty to write this freely to your Lordship for I do not deny that I am in some pain till I know whether it is true or not I pray God prevent a new breach in a church which has suffered so severely under the old one. My Lord Your Lordship's most faithful Servant and Brother, All Glory be to God. My Lord, England, and perhaps for want of a steady Sarum, Oct. 1. conduct about the time of the revolution; I think myself obliged, not only from his Will, made not long before his last sickness (and which being taken as a death-bed profession of faith, may gain the greater credit) to transcribe the words following: as for my religion, I die in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith, professed by the whole Church before the disunion of East and West; more particularly I die in the communion of the Church of England, as it stands distinguished from all Papal and Puritan Innovations, and as it adheres to the doctrine of the Cross; GI. SARUM. I am obliged to your Lordship, for the continued concern you express for me, and for the kind freedom you are pleased to take with me; and though I have already in public, fully declared my mind to my Diocese concerning the oath, to prevent my being misunderstood; yet since you seem to expect it of me, I will give such an account, which if it does not satisfy your Lordship, will at least satisfy myself. 1 dare assure you, I never advised any one to take the oath; though some, who came to talk insidiously with me, may have raised such a report: So far bave I been from it, that I never would administer it to any one person whom I was to collate. And therefore, be fore the act took place, I gave a particular commission to my Chancellor, who himself did not scruple it; so that he was authorized, not only to institute, but also to collate in my stead. If any came to discourse with me about taking the oath, I usually told them, I durst not take it myself. I told them my reasons, if they urged me to it, and were of my own Diocese: and then remitted them to their study and prayers, for further directions. 'Tis true, having been scandalized at many persons of our own coat, who for several years together, preached up passive obedience to a much greater height than ever I did, it being a subject with which I very rarely meddled, and on a sudden, without the least acknowledgment of their past error, preached and acted the quite contrary; I did prepare a pastoral Letter, which, if I had seen reason to alter my judgment, I thought to have published; at least that part of, it, on which I laid the greatest stress, to justify my conduct to my flock, and before I went to London, I told some of my friends, that if that proved true, which was affirmed to us with all imaginable assurance, (and which I think more proper for discourse than a letter) it would be an inducement to me to comply; but when I came to town, I found it was false; and without being influenced by any one, or making any words of it, I burnt my paper, and adhered to my former opinion. If this is to be called change of mind, and a change so criminal, that people who are very discerning, and know my own heart better than myself, have pronounced sentence upon me, that there is something else than conscience at the bottom; I am much afraid, that some of these who censure me, may be chargeable with more notorious changes than that; whether more conscientious or no, God only is the judge. If your Lordship gives credit to the many misrepresentations which are made of me, and which, I being so used to can easily disregard, you may naturally enough be in pain for me; for to see one of your brethren throwing himself headlong into a wilful deprivation, not only of honour and of income, but of a good conscience also, are particulars out of which may be framed an idea very deplorable. But though I do daily in many things betray great infirmity, I thank God I The Bishop was about this time confidently assured, that king James had by some special instrument made over the Kingdom of Ireland to the French King. cannot accuse myself of any insincerity, so that deprivation will not reach my conscience, and I am in no pain at all for myself. I perceive, that after we have been sufficiently ridiculed, the last mortal stab designed to be given us, is to expose us to the world for men of no conscience; and if God is pleased to permit it, his most holy will be done; though what that particular passion of corrupt nature is which lies at the bottom, and which we gratify in losing all we have, will be hard to determine. God grant such reproaches as these may not revert on the authors. I heartily join with your Lordship in your desires for the peace of this Church; and I shall conceive great hopes, that God will have compassion on her, if I see that she compassionates and supports her sister of Scotland. I beseech God to make you an instrument to promote that peace and that charity, I myself can only contribute to, both by my prayers and by my deprecations against schism, and against sacrilege. And because I have lately seen some reflections in a pamphlet, lately crept into the world under the suspicious title of a Secret History, wherein Dr. Ken is by name mentioned to teaze the Duke of Monmouth in vain on the scaffold, to profess the doctrine of passive obedience: I think it proper here in this place boldly to affirm, that our Bishop (for such he was at that time, and did attend on the scaffold,) never acted or assisted there, but in the devotional part only. And this though a negative, may be proved to satisfaction. And as to what is so confidently mentioned a little after, concerning the subscription of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, among many others, to the invitation of the Prince of Orange, was there any such subscription any where to be produced, it must not have been denied ; but there are very strong arguments to be urged, that he never had any the least hand in that matter. And now to close all, I shall set forth one instance of care, that himself might not offend. For whilst he staid in town, and lodged with his old friend Dr. Hooper, now Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, who had daily and earnestly discoursed with him on the subject of compliance with the oath, he at last used these expressions to him-I question not but that you, and several others, have taken the oaths with as good a conscience as myself shall refuse them; and sometimes you have almost persuaded me to comply, by the arguments you have used; but I beg you to urge them no farther; for should I be persuaded to comply, and after sce reason to |