of the government was aroused by this proceeding on the part of the Bishops. The pious Ken was summoned before the Privy Council to answer certain interrogatories. He was asked, "Did you subscribe this Paper?" He replied, "My Lords, I thank God I did, and it had a very happy effect: for the will of my blessed Redeemer was fulfilled; and what we were not able to do ourselves, was done by others." It was said by the council, "No one condemns charity, but the way you have taken to procure it: your Paper is illegal." This was an extraordinary charge; and was thus met by Ken: "My Lords, I can plead to the Evangelical part: I am no lawyer, but shall want lawyers to plead that." He then states, that the project originated with Kettlewell, who was now deceased: that having signed it he retired to the country in an obscure village, "where I live above the suspicion of giving umbrage to the government." It was then objected by the council, that the money had been given to immoral men: "particularly to one, who goes in a gown one day, and in a blue silk wastcoat another." Ken remarked, that to give to an ill man might be a mistake, but not a crime. He stated also, that a thousand persons were imprisoned in his Diocese, after Monmouth's rebellion; that he had relieved their wants; and that King James had never complained of his conduct. They admitted, that they did not charge him individually with giving to improper persons, but that it had been done by others. But they add, "The Paper comes out with a pretence of authority, and it is illegal, and in the nature of a brief." Ken replied, that he was not prepared to argue the legal point. It was then pretended that the Bishops by their Paper had "usurped Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction." The Bishop replies to this
