ready been introduced into the House of Commons. He was anxious to conciliate the favour of all parties: he determined therefore to control his feelings; and fo "entreated him to return to his former poft and respect." Ken's placable spirit was not difficult to perfuade; "he confented to continue for one year longer, during which time he was taken into a fhow of great familiarity, and when that year expired he returned for England." "* The close of his duties at the Hague was cheered by an event that marks the powerful effect of his ministry. His fervent eloquence, and affectionate zeal,-his fimplicity and holiness of life, made their way to the hearts even of men of other creeds. Not only Presbyterians, but Roman Catholics, went to hear him preach. The pure Anglican doctrine was brought out in its full force; not in the way of controversy, but by demonstration from the infpired oracles. In the fpirit of primitive teaching he convinced his hearers of the apoftolic origin and authority of our Episcopate. It is probable there were several inftances of converfion: but one that took place from the Church of Rome was deemed of fufficient importance to be communicated to Archbishop Sancroft, with whom Ken had already commenced a friendship, afterwards fo feverely tefted. Henry Sidney mentions the intended converfion of Colonel Fitz Patrick from the Romish Communion. Two days after he notices a conference between the Colonel and Dr. Ken; and on the 13th of September the Chaplain writes this unpretending letter to Sancroft. Hawkins, p. 8. Diary, 29th Auguft, 1680. "For His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury. "My very Good Lord, "I SHOULD not dare to make this invasion on Your Grace, but that my duty enforces me, and the ambition I have to fend news, which I know will be extremely welcome to your Grace, and the rather because it is of a convert to our Church, and of a convert, who is no lesse a person than Collonell Fitz Patrick; who upon a deliberate enquiry is fo fully fatisfy'd with our Church, that he communicates with us next Lord's day in the Princess's Chapel. 'Tis not to be imagined how much both their Highneffes are pleased with the Colonel's happy refolution, and the Prince commanded me to give my Lord of London a particular account of it, which I have done. &c. "I most earnestly begge Your Grace's benediction "My Good Lord, "Your Grace's most obedient and * Round's Profe Works of Ken, Hague, Sept. 13th, 1680. He would not have been defired by the Prince to fend the Bishop of London particulars of the progress of this converfion, had he not been the principal instrument of bringing it about: yet he makes no mention of himself; his only thought is the cause of truth, and the good of his fellow-men. p. 38. CHAPTER IX. Ken returns from the Hague-appointed Chaplain to the King -His Funeral Sermon on Lady Margaret Maynard-The Court of Charles II. at Winchester-Ken refuses the use of his Prebendal houfe to Nell Gwin. P HE time was now arrived for Ken's happy return to England. He did not, as Hawkins mentions, remain in Holland till the end of the year: it is certain that he was in London, in the house of his friend Francis Turner, in Amen Corner, Westminster, in October, 1680. No fooner did he arrive than the King rewarded his faithfulness by appointing him one of his own Chaplains. Hawkins and Wood both say that "the King did not show any dislike of his behaviour in Holland." It was not probable he should do fo; for "his moft prudent behaviour, and ftrict piety gained him entire credit, and high esteem with the Princess Mary," who probably recommended him to the King's favour. Moreover, Lord Maynard's influence would naturally be exercised in favour of the protector of his niece, Jane Wroth, now Madame Zulestein. If the Prince still cherished any resentment against Ken, it was not likely to lower him in the good graces of Charles, who had never shown any affection for his nephew. William was too near in fucceffion, and in too close correspondence with the anti-court party in England, not to be an object of jealousy to the royal brothers. The Princess, his wife, was heir prefumptive to the throne; and when shortly afterwards the Oxford Parliament again propofed to exclude the Duke of York, and banish him from England, as an avowed Papist, the House of Commons declared that the Government (on the King's demife) should be vefted in them, as Regents; and Commiffioners were to have been fent over to receive the oaths of William and Mary that they would take on themselves the trusts of the intended act. The King, to prevent the prosecution of this scheme, fuddenly diffolved parliament; but the Prince was ftill openly regarded by the malcontents as the main hope of the nation for preserving the Protestant religion. Apart, therefore, from all other influences, the circumftance of Ken's having incurred the Prince's displeasure, would rather advance than impede his promotion at the hands of the King. Wood fixes the appointment in 1679,* Bowles in 1681, and Hawkins in 1684, after his return from Tangier. Hawkins is plainly mistaken; for in the books of the Lord Chamberlain's office there is a memorandum of a letter, dated the 25th of January, 1682, written to Dr. Vincent (another of the Royal Chaplains) defiring him "to wayte in February next, for Dr. Kenn, he being at sea in His Majefty's service," showing that he was Chaplain before the expedition to Tangier. The Records of the Lord Chamberlain's office ought • Athenæ Oxon. Vol. ii. p. 989. Hawkins' Life of Ken, p. 7. + Life of Ken, Vol. ii. p. 63. to give the very day of his appointment: but the books are defective at the exact period when it took place. It is certain, however, that he was not chaplain at any time between the 14th of January 1677 and the 30th of July 1680, during which the registers are perfect. The following letter, extant in the office, fhows that he was appointed between the date of his letter to Sancroft, (the 13th of September) and the 21ft of October 1680. So that the time is afcertained within a few weeks. It is not improbable that this letter was the first official notice he received of the King's favour. October 21ft, 1680. "Sir, "THERE being five Sundays of this month of October I have thought proper to appoint you to preach before His Majesty at Whitehall upon the last Sunday in this month; but, understanding that it would be more convenient for you to preach upon Sunday next, I have prevailed with the Dean of Chichester, who is in wayting, to preach upon the last Sunday, and that you fhould preach before His Majefty upon Sunday next at Whitehall, and fo perform that duty accordingly. "Thus I reft your loving friend, "ARLINGTON." For Dr. Ken, at Dr. Turner's, Amen Corner. There is no record of this his firft fermon before the Court. In the lifts of Lent Preachers, in the London Gazette for 1681 and 1682, his name does not appear. Probably, therefore, he only took his turn in the ordinary rotation of the Chaplains in those years. In the |