Chapter Kay to Kensington of K by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Kempfer-Hausen, Robert Pearce Gillies, one of the speakers in the “Noctês Ambrosianæ.”—Blackwood’s Magazine.

Kendah, an Arabian tribe, which used to bury alive their female children as soon as they were born. The Korân refers to them in ch. vi.

Kenelm (St.) was murdered at Clente-in-Cowbage, near Winchelcumb, in Gloucestershire; but the murder “was miraculously notified at Rome by a white dove,” which alighted on the altar of St. Peter’s, bearing in its beak a scroll with these words—

In Clent cow-pasture, under a thorn,
Of head bereft, lies Kenelm king-born.
   —Roger de Wendover: Chronicles (died 1237),

Kenelm Chillingly, a novel by lord Lytton (1873).

Kenge (I syl), of the firm of Kenge and Carboy, Lincoln’s Inn, generally called “Conversation Kenge,” loving above all things to hear “the dulcet tones of his own voice.” The firm was engaged on the side of Mr. Jarndyce in the great Chancery suit of “Jarndyce v. Jarndyce.”—Dickens: Bleak House (1852).

Kenilworth, a novel by sir W. Scott (1821). This is very superior to The Abbot and The Monastery. For interest it comes next to lvanhoe, and the portrait of queen Elizabeth is lifelike and correct. That of queen Mary is given in The Abbot. The novel is full of courtly gaieties and splendour, but contains the unhappy tale of the beautiful Amy Robsart, which cannot fail to excite our sympathy and pity.

The tale is about the infidelity of the earl of Leicester and the death of his wife, Amy Robsart. Queen Elizabeth went to Kenilworth Castle on a visit to the earl of Leicester, who wished and hoped to become king-consort, but Amy Robsart was in the way. The queen, having heard about Amy, requested to see her, but Varney (the earl’s master-of-the-house) assured her majesty that Amy (whom he called his wife) was too ill to enter the royal presence. Matters were now so complicated and dangerous that Varney induced the earl to send Amy a cup of poison to make away with her. She was compelled to drink the draught, but its fatal effects were neutralized by an antidote. Amy now made her escape from the castle, and took refuge in Cumnor Place, a seat belonging to the earl. Here Varney inveigled her into a dark passage, under pretence that the earl was waiting for her. She rushed forwards to meet her husband, and, falling through a secret trap into an abyss, was killed.

Kenna, daughter of king Oberon, who fell in love with Albion son of the island king. According to this fable, “Kensington Garden” is Kenna’s-town-garden.—Tickell: Kensington Garden (died 1740). (See Kensington.)

Kennahtwhar [“I know not where”], the capital of Noman’s-land, 91º north latitude and 181º west longitude.

A chronicler of Kennahtwhar of literary mystery,
The Conquest of Granada left in manuscript for history.
   —The Queen (“Double Acrostic,” 1878).

(This chronicler was “Fray Antonio Agapida,” the hypothetical author of The Conquest of Granada, by W. Irving.)

Kenna-quhair [Scotch, “I don’t know where”], an hypothetical locality. Melrose may in general pass for Kennaquhair.—Sir W. Scott.

Kennedy (Frank), an excise officer, who shows Mr. G. Godfrey Bertram, the laird of Ellangowan and a magistrate, the smuggler’s vessel chased by a warsloop. The smugglers afterwards murder him.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Monnering (time, George II.).

Kenneth (Sir), “Knight of the Leopard,” a disguise assumed by David earl of Huntingdon, prince royal of Scotland.—Sir W. Scott: The Talisman (time, Richard I.).