THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 57 



he could spare, so that his habit was mean, and 

 he had a poor horse to carry him about." His 

 situation at Longleat must after all have been a 

 pleasant one. It was adjoining his own diocese. 

 There it was that during the reign of William and 

 Mary he passed his peaceful days. 



In 1696 Ken was summoned before the Council 

 for putting forth a " charitable recommendation " 

 on behalf of the deprived clergy and their families. 

 He defended himself manfully ; he was courteously 

 treated and liberated. 



In 1 70 1 King James died, and then the oath of 

 abjuring the young pretender was enjoined to be 

 taken by all faithful subjects of King William. 

 This troubled Ken a good deal, fearing that 

 he might be called upon to take it ; he said 

 he would, in his " old age and infirmity, leave 

 the country" rather than take an oath which to 

 him would be perjury ; but it did not affect him 

 personally. " He that is down need fear no fall." 



In 1702 King William died from a fall from his 

 horse. Ken was at this time sixty-five years old. 

 He was living when Charles the First was brought 

 to the block ; he had lived to see the Lord Pro- 

 tector's sumptuous and magnificent funeral. He 

 had seen King Charles the Second expire. He had 



