THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 49 



"//^ gave a close attendance by the Royal 

 bed without intermission at least three ivhole 

 days and nights, watching at proper intervals 

 to suggest pious and proper thoughts and 

 ejaculations ; in which time the Duchess of 

 Portsmouth coming into the room, the Bishop 

 prevailed on his Majesty to have her removed ! 

 and took the occasion of representing this 

 injury done to the queen so effectually that 

 his Majesty was induced to send for the 

 queen, and asking pardon^ had the satisfaction 

 of her forgiveness before he died." Finally 

 he absolved the King, for which he was blamed 

 by some because he received no declaration 

 of penitence. (D. N. B.) 



As I had only proposed to myself to give a bare 

 outline of Ken's career, I must pass over all his 

 doings whilst in active possession of his bishopric — 

 his self-denial, his unbounded charity, his parochial 

 schools, of which he was the first and most earnest 

 promoter ; the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth ; 

 the battle of Sedgemoor ; flight of the Duke ; 

 his capture and execution ; ^ the seven bishops 



1 It was at the request of King James that Bishop Ken 

 was appointed to prepare that unfortunate youth for death, 



E 



