Dr. Ken, particularly in reproof of the vices of this town. I was in pain for the Governor, and the officers about us in church; but I perceived they regarded it not. "7th Octo Sunday. Church: Dr. Ken made a weak fermon on the great business of our being called home. * "14th Octo Sunday. From Church, and dined, by invitation, with Sir W. Booth on board the Grafton. dinner Dr. Ken gave us a fermon. † After "21ft Octo Sunday. To Church, Dr. Ken reading prayers. Mr. Hughes preached an ordinary sermon. ‡ "23rd Octo: Tuesday. At fupper, Dr. Ken told my Lord and the company (Mr. Hughes, minister of the parish, being by) how Kirke had put one Roberts on the parish, to be reader, who will fwear, drink, &c., as freely as any man in the town and now would put him on Shovel to be his chaplain in the James galley. But Dr. Ken proposes, and defires my Lord to put in one Mercer, schoolmafter of the town, for several reafons; among the reft, keeping out Roberts. The reason for Kirke's thus appearing for him is, because he is brother to Mrs. Collier, his mistress. § "26th Octo: Being a little ill, and troubled at so much loose company at table, my Lord not being there, I dined in my chamber; and Dr. Ken, for the fame reason, came and Idined with me. We had a great deal of good discourse on the viciousness of this place, and it's being time for Almighty God to destroy it. "28th Octo Sunday. Very high discourse between Dr. Ken and me on the one fide, and the Governor (Kirke) on the other, about the exceffive liberty of swearing we observe here. The Doctor, it seems, had preached on it to-day. || * Life, Journal, and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, vol. i. p. 384. + Ibid. p. 393. + Ibid. p. 424. § Ibid. p. 432. It was not likely that Ken, who had reproved adultery in his King, would give his sanction to fuch a profligate appointment by a man whom all detefted for his crimes. || Life, Journal, and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, vol. i. p. 439. "3rd Nov Saturday. Afternoon. To the mole to walk with my Lord. So cold that I came back again, and went to vifit Dr. Ken, who keeps his chamber, very ill of headache. To bed, much out of humour with my cold." ""* At length, by the middle of January, 1684, the fortifications were deftroyed: but the fleet was prevented failing for England till the 5th of March. Much time was spent in concluding a treaty with the Moors for the release of the Chriftian flaves, arranging the compensation to the English, Portuguese, and other fettlers for their lofs of property, and getting them all on board. Every difficulty was interpofed by the wilfulness of Kirke, whose peculations and tyranny were to be brought to an end: but the party on board. the Grafton, who had been fo much fcandalized by his atrocities, had to endure the infliction of his company, as a fellow-paffenger, on the homeward voyage. As he was joined with Lord Dartmouth and Pepys in the King's commiffion for deftroying Tangier, he could not be transferred to any other than the Admiral's fhip. Mr. Bowles fays, "We know not what was the refult of Ken's inquiries into the state of flavery in Africa; but we know that, in the fame ship in which he returned to England, was embarked a greater monster than Africa— leonum arida nutrix'—ever produced. Among the motley band of Papal foldiers that manned that dif tant garrison, was embarked for England that Kirke, who showed [afterwards] in the town of Taunton * Life, Journal, and Correspondence of Samuel Pepys, vol. i. p. 441. where, and how well, he had learned his trade of deceit, and luft, and murder ;-and he now accompanied home to the fhores of Albion the humble, humane, and apoftolic Ken. Such are the fortuitous admixtures of the world."* CHAPTER IX. Ken returns to England-Death of Izaak Walton; and of HE fleet from Tangier caft anchor at It may be inferred from Pepys's Diary that Ken and others landed at Portfmouth, which was the nearest point to his friends at Winchester. We may imagine the alacrity with which he escaped from the confufion and noise on shipboard, fo little congenial to his habits. No doubt he had found this fphere of usefulness disappointing to his hopes. The prevailing corruption and immorality at Tangier, and throughout the fleet, were beyond his control or influence. What anticipations of hope and fear muft he have felt, as he came within fight of the Church of St. Cross, and after that the well known towers of Winchefter. Alas! he was to receive no welcome from the loved lips, that for fo many years had cheered him onward in his path; they were closed for this world. The devout Walton had fallen asleep; and he not by to receive his last words, and be the minifter of Chriftian folace in his parting hour! Few men in fo humble a fphere had lived a more useful life: the memory of few is more cherifhed. His writings are the mirror of a meek fpirit, purified by a fimple devotion to God. It is not too much to say, that they have been our comfort under trials, and the companion of our holiday walks: they have made us love the pleasantness of the mountains,— they have decked the meadows with more than their native flowers, and have made the falls of rivers more musical; for they lift the hearts of the afflicted to their only Comforter, and the thankful praises of the happy to the divine Author of every bleffing. Ken, amidst his regrets for such a lofs, had the best comfort of mourners,-the conviction that he who had been to him all but a spiritual father, had left this jangling world for an eternal harmony and reft. Walton had been already three months buried within Prior Silkstead's Chapel, in the Cathedral, where he and Ken had for many years joined in the services of the Church they both loved fo well, and had each, in his sphere, fo zealously ferved. We may judge of their mutual attachment by the epitaph that ftill marks the place of Walton's burial, and which in all likelihood was written by Ken himself; HERE RESTETH THE BODY OF MR. IZAAC WALTON, WHO DIED THE 15TH OF DECEMBER, 1683. Alas, he's gone before, Gone to return no more! Our panting breasts aspire, After their aged fire; Whofe well spent life did laft Full ninety years and past. But now he hath begun That which will ne'er be done. Crown'd with eternal bliffe, We wish our fouls with his. VOTIS MODESTIS SIC FLERUNT LIBERI. |