CHAPTER V.

KEN RETURNS TO ENGLAND

THE KING'S HOUSE AT

WINCHESTER-HIS RESOLUTE AND CHRISTIAN CONDUCT COMPLYING DEAN-KEN NOMINATED BY THE KING BISHOP OF BATH AND WELLS.

Ir was at Mary's urgent request that the indignant and insulted and virtuous and high-minded Ken consented to stay a year longer in Holland, lest the circumstances of this singular transaction should be known, and reflections cast on her arrogant and unfeeling husband.

Hawkins informs us, that his leaving the court of the Hague made "no difference" in King Charles's estimation. On the contrary, it is evident the King approved his conduct; and it is well known that in a similar case, between his own brother and the daughter of Lord Clarendon, so far from wishing to prevent the marriage, he generously said, "His brother ought to brew as he baked."

Ken returned to England probably about 1681. The King was soon after employed in superintending the magnificent palace which he had projected at Winchester, within a few years of his

death, literally fulfilling that pathetic description in

Horace

"Tu secanda marmora

Locas sub ipsum funus, et immemor
Sepulcri, struis domos."

The Monarch, occupied with his splendid visions of fountains, statues, and all the pomp of architectural decoration, seemed to forget the lesson is, alas too seldom remembered how soon the short-lived projectors of "the gorgeous palaces," may be gathered to the dust on which they stand. Two magnificent structures, crowning the vale of Itchin, yet remain—the cathedral and the college: and within a few years here stood the wreck of this royal work: the first venerable pile, from age to age, calls succeeding generations to the contemplation of far more enduring scenes - the other is associated from age to age with ideas of early piety and learning the site and fragments of the last remain to mock at human vanity, and the presumptuous hopes of earth.

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Looking forward to length of days, the thoughtless Monarch now more frequently visited Winchester, for oblivion of public cares, and often with different harlot-duchesses. It will be anticipated that I am about to relate the well-known anecdote of a beautiful courtesan, in humbler station, but no less a favoured companion of his libertine hours. Of the truth of the story there can be no doubt, for it is related by Hawkins, and

we know that Hawkins recorded nothing of the life of Ken except what he received from the mouth of Ken himself, in his last days. The kindness which the King had ever shown to this virtuous man forms one of the best traits in his character. His own lodgings were mostly at the Deanery during his stay at Winchester. A lodging at the adjoining prebendal residence of Ken was demanded for the King's favourite of the hour. "Not for his kingdom!" was the virtuous reply.

It could not be thought the most successful mode of wooing preferment, thus peremptorily to refuse what a King demanded; but the King afterwards showed equally his good sense, and, though so libertine himself, his respect for consistency and virtue in others.

The "bowing" Dean, horrified at this outrage on the principles of "PASSIVE obedience," was far more compliant. There is a small attached room, built of brick, at the end of the large drawing-room* in the Deanery, from tradition, called " Nell Gwyn;" and where it is supposed she lodged whilst the King was at the Deanery.

The Dean of Winchester at this time was Dr. Richard Meggot, having been appointed in 1669. He succeeded Dr. Grant, the successor of Alexander Hyde, a Wycchamist, on the promotion of

This small attached room has a communication from below, and another to this room, which might have been the King's state bed-room.

this last to the Bishopric of Salisbury. Dean Meggot seems exactly to have answered Tom Warton's description of the Cambridge Dean:

"Still of preferment let her shine the Queen,

Prolific parent of each bowing Dean."

He was of Queen's College, Cambridge; and how successfully he "bowed" himself into preferment will appear from his benefices; for he was Canon of Windsor, Rector of St. Olave's* in Southwark, Vicar of Twickenham, and, in fact, during Charles the Second's "golden days," possessing the righteous determination of the celebrated Vicar of Bray. The building attached to the Deanery proves his ready compliance with the King's wishes-not, indeed, admitting "poor Nelly" into the Deanery — but compounding between his conscience and MAMMON, by adding this small brick appendage to the Deanery, having a communication to the King's bed-room; in which room, called to this day Nell Gwyn, I have often slept in younger days, little dreaming I should record the circumstance.

To his other preferments this accommodating Dean no doubt expected to add that of the first bishopric which should become vacant. A bishopric, that of Bath and Wells, did shortly afterwards become vacant, by the death of poor old Morley

and now the application was made, no doubt, by the smiling and "bowing Dean," either for the Wintonian mitre, or whatever bishopric it should please his most gracious Majesty to bestow * Wood.

on him, in remembrance of his prompt obedience and anxiety to comply in every thing with his Majesty's wishes! Mew, it is well known, was promoted to the episcopal throne of Winton, a kind of amphibious bishop, half soldier and half priest-the vacant BISHOPRIC of Bath and Wells was bestowed-by the King himself—not on the bowing Dean, but, as unsolicited as totally unexpected, on Thomas Ken! The only addition Meggot got was the little addition to his deanery-house: nor does it appear he ever advanced farther in preferment than being Dean of Winchester, Canon of Windsor, Rector of St. Olave's, and Vicar of Twickenham in Middlesex! *

That the tradition of the origin of this brick appendage to the Deanery is founded on truth seems warranted; for, in fact, we can trace the tradition through five Deans after Meggot. The tradition was received as undoubted by Dean Shipley, as his descendants well know. Shipley was made Dean in 1760: he could not have invented the story; he must have received it from his predecessor, Cheney. Did Cheney invent it- or had he heard the story from Zachary Pearce? From Meggot there were only three intervening Deans. There may be descendants of Meggot living. If what has been said might be thought derogatory to his character, I shall be happy to admit any explanation from those who may have better means of information.

* He died Dean of Winchester in 1692.