48 THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 

 Burnet says of Ken — 



" Ken succeeded Mew in Bath and Wells ; 

 a man of an ascetic course of life, and yet 

 of a very lively temper, but too hot and 

 sudden. He had a very edifying way of 

 preaching, but it was more apt to move the 

 passions than to instruct ; so that his sermons 

 were more beautiful than solid ; yet his way 

 was very taking. The King seemed fond of 

 him, and by him and Turner the papists 

 hoped that great progress might be made in 

 gaining or at least deluding the Church." 



Ken was consecrated at Lambeth, January 25, 

 1685 ; his induction had been delayed in conse- 

 quence of his having been summoned to the bed- 

 side of the dying monarch. The scene of that 

 death-bed has been so often described that I must 

 pass it by with the briefest reference. He strove 

 to awaken the King's conscience, speaking " like a 

 man inspired," and vainly urging him to receive 

 the sacrament. Mr. Bowles quotes Burnet in full 

 and gives several pages of his own comments, and 

 then he gives Ken's own account of what passed 

 in the death chamber of Charles H., in which it is 

 stated that — 



