60 THOMAS KEN AND IZAAK WALTON 



Kidder by blowing down a stack of chimneys at 

 the west end of the palace of Wells. 



The following letter from Ken to Bishop Lloyd 

 relates his providential escape, and the reason for 

 his declining the bishopric. I give it as I find it in 

 the old spelling, though in other letters the spelling 

 is modernised. 



" ' All Glory be to God.' 

 "MY GOOD L D AND B R , 



" The same post w ch brought me your Lord- 

 shipp's, brought me the News of y e Occasionall 

 Bills being throwne out by y e Lords. I think 

 I omitted to tell you y 6 full of my deliverance 

 in ye late storme, for the house being surveyed 

 y 6 day following, y 6 workmen found y' y e beame 

 w ch supported y 6 roof over my head was broken 

 out to y* degree, y* had but halfe an inch hold, 

 so y 1 was a wonder it would hold together ; 

 for w ch signall and particular preservation God's 

 holy name be ever praised ! I am sure I 

 ought alwayes thankfully to remember it. I, 

 hearing y* y e B p of St. Asaph was offered Bath 

 and Wells, and y* on my account he refused 

 it, wrott to give my assent to it. I did it in 

 regard to y 6 diocese, y* they might not have 



