and the Prince her brother, to be vagabonds in the world, had not the generofity of a neighbouring monarch receiv'd, entertain'd, and fuccor'd them, when their own fubjects, and even children, had loft all bowels of compassion and duty." "If anything had been able to trouble the tranquillity which the King's refignation afforded him, this would have done it, especially when he heard his poor daughter had been fo deluded as to declare at her death, that her conscience no way troubled her, that if she had done anything which the world might blame her for, it was with the advice of the most learned men of her Church, who were to answer for it, not fhe:' this made the King cry out; 'O miserable way of arguing, so fatal both to the deceiver, and those that suffer themselves to be deceived!' She discover'd, it seems by this, her fcruple and aprehention, yet blindly followed those guides, whofe tragical end, as well as those who are guided by them, the Scripture itself warns us of."*

A fad epitaph this, to be written on a daughter's tomb by a father's pen, perhaps more severe than just. Among many recorded teftimonies to her merit, is that of a most truthful servant of her's, who had an intimate knowledge of her character. This was Dr. Hooper, her Chaplain at the Hague, and ever afterwards much in her confidence. "He would often say that, in the time he attended her, he never faw her do, nor heard her say, a thing that he would have wished she had not." ↑

* Clarke's Life of James II., vol. ii. p. 525.

† Prowfe's MS. Life of Hooper.

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On the death of Mary, laudatory fermons were preached in many of the London and country churches. That by Archbishop Tenison at Whitehall, was the languid oration of that dull man,” which so much difpleafed King James; it alfo drew down upon him many fevere comments from others, as exhibiting a great want of proper referve, in details of the deathbed scene, which should have been kept facred. One pamphlet in particular came forth, which excited much attention, and being attributed to our Bifhop, may not be paffed over. It is often the penalty of diftinction and fame to bear the burthen of other people's fayings and doings. No one was more profufely honoured after this fort than Ken: the works injuriously ascribed to him are more in number than his real productions. Hawkins complains of the "ill treatment he met with, even in his lifetime, from having fpurious performances afcribed to him."* Among these was the anonymous tract, entitled "A Letter to Dr. Tenifon, concerning his Sermon, preached at the Funeral of her late Majefty." It is a tissue of bitter obloquy against the Queen, and the Archbishop, wholly inconfiftent with the meek spirit of the author of the "Practice of Divine Love." It was not likely that he fhould now, for the first time, and on fuch an occafion, enter the lifts of a political controverfy. If anything could draw him out of his retirement into the

*Dedication to the Works of Thomas Ken.

Mr. Round, in his Preface to the Profe Works of Ken, notices feveral, and fatisfactorily difproves his authorship.

din of a contentious world, this at leaft was a topic uncongenial to him. He was incapable* of traducing the character of a Princess "whofe high esteem he had gained by his moft prudent behaviour, and ftrict piety, and whom to his death he distinguish'd by the title of his Mistress." In all his acknowledged writings, or in his correspondence, no expreffion can be found that is akin to the whole tenor of this Letter of vehement animadverfion.

Ken, therefore, we may be fure, was not the author. In his contemplative life, amid the fecluded walks of Long Leat, he was very differently engaged. "There," as Hawkins fays, "he compofed many excellent, useful, and pious pieces," to be found in his volumes of poetry. "His cholick pains rendering him uncapable of more serious study, he applied himself so happily to this favourite entertainment, his great relish for Divine Poefy,' as thereby, in fome measure, to palliate the acuteness of his pain. So clofe was his application to these studies, and fo was his mind bent on quietnefs, that during all the time of his retirement, and among all the attempts of, and clamours againft, thofe called Jacobites, in the reign of King William, he was never

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* As one paffage alone of that work might show; “O, my God, amidst the deplorable divifions of thy Church, let me never widen its breaches; but give me Catholic charity to all that are baptized in thy name, and Catholic Communion with all Chriftians in defire. O give me grace to pray daily for the peace of thy Church, and earnestly to seek it, and to excite all I can to praise and love Thee."

+ Hawkins's Life of Ken, p. 7.

once disturb'd in that quiet enjoyment of himself; and 'tis prefumed never fufpected of any ill defign, fince never publickly molefted, or privately rebuk'd:* «He behaved himself with all the decency, piety, and humility that became a Bishop in affliction."†

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Ken's humane difpofition

Circular letter of the deprived BiShops, recommending a charitable fund for the relief of the Non-juring Clergy-Character and Death of Kettlewell — Ken fummoned before the Privy Council, and released.

HE friendship of Lord Weymouth had placed Ken beyond the reach of personal want: but he was fenfitively alive to the distress of others. Every appeal of an afflicted fellow creature moved him at once to fympathy. His alms could not be in the measure of his charitable defires, which had ever been unbounded. When he gave nearly 4000l. to the exiled Huguenots, it did not fatisfy him: how much lefs could he effect on 80l. a year! Then, of his abundance, he caft in all, as an offering to God ;-now, his poor mite was an equal oblation, and laid up in the same treasury,—not the lefs bleffed to himself.

Writing to Bishop Lloyd, he excuses himself from oming to London, as "being confiftent neither with my purse, nor convenience, nor health, nor inclination:" and some days afterwards he says, "when I told you a London journey was not agreeable to my purse, it was no pretence, but a real truth. I am not able to support the expence of it, which all that know my condition will eafily believe. I thank God I have enough to bring the yeare about, while I remain in