sent [his third] wife wears the breeches, as his haughty, insolent temper deserves’ (Remains and Collections, ii. 9).
His biographer, the Rev. William Newton, admits that his zeal as a whig partisan sometimes carried him to extremes, but he was very charitable, and displayed great moderation in his relations with the dissenters. He is now remembered chiefly as a painstaking and laborious antiquary, especially in the department of ecclesiastical biography. The number of his works both in print and manuscript shows him to have been throughout his life a man of incredible diligence and application. He was always ready to communicate the results of his researches to fellow-students. Probably his best-known work, apart from his ‘Compleat History’ already noticed, was his ‘Register and Chronicle, Ecclesiastical and Civil: containing Matters of Fact delivered in the words of the most Authentick Books, Papers, and Records; digested in exact order of time. With papers, notes, and references towards discovering and connecting the true History of England from the Restauration of King Charles II,’ vol. i. (all published), London, 1728, fol. The original materials for this valuable work are preserved in the British Museum among the Lansdowne MSS. 1002–1010. The manuscript volumes bring the register to 1679. The published volume begins with the Restoration, and only comes down to December 1662.
Kennett published more than twelve separate sermons preached on public occasions between 1694 and 1728, and others in support of charity schools (cf. The Excellent Daughter, 1708; 11th edit. 1807) or of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (cf. sermon issued in 1712). His addresses to his clergy at Peterborough on his first visitation were issued in 1720. Kennett was also the author of the following, besides the works already noticed:
- ‘Remarks on the Life, Death, and Burial of Henry Cornish,’ London, 1699, 4to.
- ‘Ecclesiastical Synods, and Parliamentary Convocations in the Church of England, Historically stated, and justly Vindicated from the misrepresentations of Mr. Atterbury,’ pt. i. London, 1701, 8vo.
- ‘An Occasional Letter, on the subject of English Convocations,’ London, 1701, 8vo.
- ‘The History of the Convocation of the Prelates and Clergy of the Province of Canterbury, summon'd to meet in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London, on Feb. 6, 1700. In answer to a Narrative of the Proceedings of the Lower House of Convocation,’ London, 1702, 4to.
- ‘An Account of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, establish'd by the Royal Charter of King William III,’ London, 1706, 4to; translated into French by Claude Grotête de la Mothe, Rotterdam, 1708, 8vo.
- ‘The Christian Scholar, in Rules and Directions for Children & Youth sent to English Schools; more especially design'd for the poor boys taught & cloath'd by charity in the parish of St. Botolph, Aldgate,’ London, 1708, 8vo; 5th edit. 1710, 8vo; 14th edit. London, 1800, 12mo; 15th edit. in ‘The Christian Scholar,’ vol. vi. 1807, 12mo; 20th edit. London, 1811, 12mo; new edit. London, 1836, 12mo.
- ‘A Vindication of the Church and Clergy of England from some late reproaches rudely and unjustly cast upon them,’ London, 1709, 8vo.
- ‘A true Answer to Dr. Sacheverell's Sermon before the Lord Mayor, Nov. 5, 1709. In a Letter to one of the Aldermen,’ London, 1709, 8vo.
- ‘A Letter to Mr. Barville upon occasion of his being reconciled to the Church of England,’ printed in ‘An Account of the late Conversion of Mr. John Barville, alias Barton,’ London, 1710, 8vo.
- ‘A Letter, about a Motion in Convocation, to the Rev. Thomas Brett, LL.D.,’ London, 1712.
- ‘A Memorial for Protestants on the 5th of Novemb., containing a more full discovery of some particulars relating to the happy deliverance of King James I, and the three Estates of the Realm of England from the most traiterous and bloody intended Massacre by Gunpowder, anno 1605. In a Letter to a Peer of Great-Britain,’ London, 1713.
- ‘A Letter to the Lord Bishop of Carlisle, concerning one of his predecessors, Bishop Merks; on occasion of a new volume [by George Harbin] for the Pretender, intituled The Hereditary Right of the Crown of England asserted,’ London, 1713, 8vo (two editions in one year); 4th edit. London, 1717, 8vo.
- ‘The Wisdom of Looking Backwards to judge the better on one side and t'other; by the Speeches, Writings, Actions, and other matters of fact on both sides for the four last years,’ London, 1715, 8vo.
- ‘A Second Letter to the Lord Bishop of Carlisle, upon the subject of Bishop Merks; by occasion of seizing some Libels, particularly a Collection of Papers written by the late R. Reverend George Hickes, D.D.,’ London, 1716, 8vo.
- ‘A Third Letter to the Lord Bishop of Carlisle, upon the subject of Bishop Merks; wherein the Nomination, Election, Investiture, and Deprivation of English Prelates are shew'd to have been originally constituted & govern'd by the Sovereign Power of Kings and their Parliaments … against the Pretensions of our new Fanaticks,’ London, 1717, 8vo. This and the two preceding
