THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 45 



destroy the mole and works of Tangier. The 

 expedition sailed September, 1683, and was absent 

 six months. During the expedition he had various 

 discussions with Samuel Pepys ; he was horrified at 

 the wickedness of the place, and preached boldly 

 against it and against the excessive liberty of 

 swearing in which the English garrison and soldiers 

 indulged (" Pepys' Life "). On his return to 

 Winchester, he found that his old and beloved 

 brother-in-law, Piscator, had sunk into the peace 

 of death during his absence. Bishop Morley died 

 in 1684. 



Through the death of Morley, the Bishoprick of 

 Winchester became vacant, and was bestowed on 

 Peter Mew, Bishop of Bath and Wells. " A kind 

 of amphibious Bishop," says Mr, Bowles, " half 

 soldier and half priest." Bath and Wells had thus 

 become vacant, and was bestowed by the King, 

 not on the expectant and complaisant " bowing 

 Dean " Meggott, but, unsolicited, as it was totally 

 unexpected, and to the astonishment of all, on 

 Thomas Ken. The King's peremptory orders 

 were — 



" Odds fish ! who shall have Bath and Wells but 

 the little black fellow who wouldn't give poor Nelly 

 a lodging? " 



