THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 55 



the hours of sickness and comparative solitude 

 — the small Greek Testament. . . . The slender 

 income of tiventy pojinds a quarter, the residue 

 of all he had upon earth — his favourite but 

 ' sorry ' horse. . . . There can be no doubt 

 that he consented to take this annuity granted 

 him by Lord Weymouth on express con- 

 ditions. . . . All the books once in his posses- 

 sion now form the most valuable part of the 

 Marquis of Bath's splendid library." 



I gather subsequently what these " express con- 

 ditions " were ; when Ken retired his whole fortune 

 amounted to ;^8oo, which sum Lord Weymouth 

 took, and allowed him £60 or ^80 a year, it being 

 understood that he was always to regard Longleat 

 as his home. 



Ken passed part of his time at Polshot near 

 Devizes, the Rectory belonging to Izaak Walton, 

 son of Piscator Walton. The following is a letter 

 written by him to a lady, on his leaving town — 



" Dear Mrs. Gregge, 



" If you have anything from our friends, 

 direct your letter, not to me, but to Mr. Isaac 

 Walton, Rector of Polshot ... for to his 



