needs at home and in the colonies furely demand that the original defign fhould be carried out.

On the 30th of January, 165, Ken, now. thirteen years of age, entered on the probationary life of a Winchefter fcholar. Here his conduct was an example to others his talents and acquirements paved the way for his advancement, in due time, from Wykeham's school to his College at Oxford. The feeds were now fown of a holy obedience to the discipline of religion, afterwards to be perfected in the rich fruits of his maturer age.

Here"he contracted a clofely cemented friendship,"t that ceased only with their lives, with "Francis Turner, afterwards Bishop of Ely, a moft truly pious prelate." The attachment between these youthful Winchester fcholars was no lefs fervent than the love between David and Jonathan, "whose fouls were knit together." This mutual love deepened, in after-life, into a yet more stedfast friendship: both had been poor scholars, both were chosen to the higheft offices in the Church; both difplayed an apoftolic fortitude as Confeffors for

*His admiffion is thus recorded in the College-Books; "Thomas Ken, de Berkhampstead, in Com. Hertford, annorum 13 ad Feftum Michaelis 1650, admiffus eft Januar. 30, 1650. (Anfwering to our January 30th, 1651.) The College election was in those days held at Michaelmas: each boy was then reckoned to be of the age which he had attained at his laft preceding birth-day. Ken, therefore, born in July 1637, was 13 by the College calculation at Michaelmas 1650. His vacancy then fell 4 months after, and he was admitted as a scholar in January, 1657.

+ Hawkins's "Short Account of the Life of the Right Reverend Father in God, Thomas Ken, D. D. fometime Ld. Bp. of Bath and Wells." 8vo. 1713, p. 2.

the primitive faith, when the unlawful commands of a tyrant were to be opposed; yet, immoveable in their loyalty, were content to suffer poverty and deprival for their ftedfast allegiance in his reverfes and exile.

The College was at this time under the wardenship of Dr. John Harris, a noted Grecian, and formerly Greek Profeffor of the University of Oxford, " which office he executed with great honour and credit."* But being tainted with the fchifmatical principles of the age, he sided with the Presbyterians against the Church, and set himself in the ranks of the difaffected to oppofe the King. He took the Covenant and other oaths, and was one of the Westminster Affembly of Divines, appointed by Parliament in 1643, under pretence of fettling religion and Church Government, but really for the purpose of conforming the Church of England to Presbytery. The Book of Common Prayer and the Creed, even the Lord's Prayer, and the Ten Commandments, were declared to be useless. Then followed the New Catechifm, and the Confeffion of Faith, fet forth in the Directory, and all their confequences, fo fatal to the peace and happiness of the nation—a warning to after-ages of the defolating effects of fchifm on the heart and confcience.

It is not likely the Warden of Winchester should often, if ever, have found time to be present in the Affembly at London: his election is by no means conclufive that he attended their meetings. Several pious Bishops and Divines of the Church were ap

* Wood's Athenæ Oxonienfes, vol. ii. p. 225.

pointed, but refused to act,-as Archbishop Ufher, Bishop Prideaux, Dr. Morley, Hammond, Sanderson, and others. It is certain that Harris entered into controversy with Dr. William Twiffe, the Prolocutor of the Affembly. He was "fo noted a Preacher that Sir Henry Savile (who was himself styled the magazine of all learning) ufed often to say he was fecond only to St. Chryfoftom" the golden mouthed father, whose orations, even in his youth, were so full of sweetnefs and glowing fervour, that his mafter Libanius took a pride in reciting them to the most distinguished rhetoricians of Antioch. To Warden Harris therefore, we may in fome measure afcribe Ken's perfuafive and powerful eloquence, for which he afterwards became fo remarkable.

He was five years in his progress through the feveral claffes each step, as it brought him nearer to the rank of Præpoftor, gave him greater privileges, and a fuller enjoyment of the sports and pastimes that expand and knit the youthful frame into manly vigour. We cannot doubt that as a Junior he obferved the ancient ftatute "præfectis obtemperato," as a Præpoftor that of "legitimè imperato," and, as both, that of "uterque a mendaciis, oftentationibus, jurgiis, pugnis, et furtis abftineto." Certainly, the love of GOD appears to have been an early inftinct of his mind, and was afterwards heightened to an evangelical piety, as may be gathered from all his writings. Even his familiar letters begin and end with fome expreffion of holy zeal ;-as "All Glory to God,"-" God keep

* Wood's Ath. Oxon. vol. ii. p. 224.

us in His reverential fear and love;" or " God keep us refigned to His will, and mindful of eternity," &c. In all his writings and prayers his heart is evidently exalted with an ardent piety, which must have grown with his growth, until it formed an effential part of his nature.

Here, training up for the contests and sufferings of maturer age, under the ftrict control of Wykeham's difcipline, Ken and his friend Francis Turner paffed through Winchester school. At length in 1655 their mutual pleasures were interrupted by Turner's removal to New College, Oxford. We may imagine the anxiety of his companion to follow him. But his younger age gave him another year to wait, increafing in wisdom, and in the ornaments of "a towardly difpofition,"* until 1656. "His parts, application, and behaviour were well employed and obferved."+

He was now at the head of the school, and on the verge of being fuperannuated, having nearly completed eighteen years of age. Election Tuesday‡approached: the Examiners from Oxford § were to be welcomed at the College gate, according to ancient custom, by a Latin fpeech. Ken was probably head Præpoftor, and appointed to the task. Then followed the examination of the candidates for New College: moments of fearful intereft, to himself and his expecting friends. It was a joyful announcement when

Wood's Ath. Oxon. vol. ii. p. 989.

+ Hawkins' Life of Ken, p. 2.

Between the 7th day of July and the 1st of October.
The Warden and two Fellows of New College.

he was declared to be on the roll of the elected: but, as there was no prefent vacancy at New College, he entered himself as a student at Hart Hall, in Oxford, in hopes of a vacancy within the ensuing year :-failing which, his chance was gone without recovery.

They who have been brought up at a public school can testify how they love to recognize the names of their distinguished men, engraved—or as it were enfhrined, on the old wainscotings and walls. Ken's name sheds a bright ray on the venerable cloifters of Winchester. "THO. KEN, 1656," cut into the stone buttress of the fouth-east corner, ftill remains a cherished memorial to Wykehamifts of the good Bishop. And near to this, within the fame cloister, and of the fame date, Dr. Moberly has lately discovered the name of Francis Turner, as if they knew not how to be separated even in these early records.