" (3) Once we have the curtain raised for a
moment, and can look at the two together for the length of a
phrase. "After the writing of this preceding," writes Knox,
"your brother and mine, Harrie Wycliffe, did advertise me by
writing, that our adversary (the devil) took occasion to
trouble you because that I DID START BACK FROM YOU REHEARSING
YOUR INFIRMITIES. I REMEMBER MYSELF SO TO HAVE DONE, AND
THAT IS MY COMMON ON CONSUETUDE WHEN ANYTHING PIERCETH OR
TOUCHETH MY HEART. CALL TO YOUR MIND WHAT I DID STANDING AT
THE CUPBOARD AT ALNWICK. In very deed I thought that no
creature had been tempted as I was; and when I heard proceed
from your mouth the very same words that he troubles me with,
I did wonder and from my heart lament your sore trouble,
knowing in myself the dolour thereof." (4) Now intercourse of
so very close a description, whether it be religious
intercourse or not, is apt to displease and disquiet a
husband; and we know incidentally from Knox himself that
there was some little scandal about his intimacy with Mrs.
Bowes. "The slander and fear of men," he writes, "has
impeded me to exercise my pen so oft as I would; YEA, VERY
SHAME HATH HOLDEN ME FROM YOUR COMPANY, WHEN I WAS MOST
SURELY PERSUADED THAT GOD HAD APPOINTED ME AT THAT TIME TO
COMFORT AND FEED YOUR HUNGRY AND AFFLICTED SOUL. GOD IN HIS
INFINITE MERCY," he goes on, "REMOVE NOT ONLY FROM ME ALL
FEAR THAT TENDETH NOT TO GODLINESS, BUT FROM OTHERS SUSPICION
TO JUDGE OF ME OTHERWISE THAN IT BECOMETH ONE MEMBER TO JUDGE
OF ANOTHER," (5) And the scandal, such as it was, would not
be allayed by the dissension in which Mrs.
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