Stuart dynasty soon followed; and William of Orange came to rule over a protesting nation which was rejoicing at the flight of an intolerant King. Here a fresh difficulty arose to Ken, and others of the Nonjuring Bishops. Having sworn allegiance to the absent monarch and his heirs, he felt in his conscience scruples at taking oaths and office to another King, whilst the former one'lived; and feeling the sacredness of his former engagement, Sancroft, Ken, and their immediate friends consented to retire from all office and emolument under William and Mary, rather than violate their first obligations.
Ken being now deprived of his bishopric, and reduced to poverty, he was invited by his early College friend, Lord Viscount Weymouth, to spend the remainder of his days at his mansion, at Longleat, near Frome, in Somersetshire. There, occupying a small suite of apartments, he lived in retirement from the busy world for twenty years, contented and happy. He was universally respected and beloved; and such was Queen Anne's esteem for him, that she offered to restore him to the see of Bath and Wells; but "he declined, with grateful thanks, for her Majesty's gracious remembrance of him, having long since determined to remain in privacy." The Queen, however, settled upon Ken an annuity of £200 royal bounty, freely and unexpectedly, for which the venerable man made a most pious and grateful acknowledgment. Even the banished James II. said of him, that he was the best preacher in the Protestant church. His successor in the see of Bath and Wells, Dr. Kidder, was killed by the falling of a stack of chimneys upon his bed, in the palace at Wells, by which casualty both himself and his wife lost their lives. A furious tempest caused the sad event, which is known as the great storm of November, 1703. Bishop Kidder had ruled over the diocese for twelve years. Ken himself escaped, during the same night, such a fatality, by almost a hairbreadth, whilst staying with his relative, Izaak Walton, at Salisbury. During the years of his retirement, he spent much of his time in devout exercises. His chief literary occupation was, as Hawkins informs us, the composing of a large portion of his poetical works, which were not published, however, till eleven years after his death.
