She was a woman of understanding, plainly, who followed
political events with interest, and to whom Knox thought it
worth while to write, in detail, the history of his trials
and successes. She was religious, but without that morbid
perversity of spirit that made religion so heavy a burden for
the poor-hearted Mrs. Bowes. More of her I do not find, save
testimony to the profound affection that united her to the
Reformer. So we find him writing to her from Geneva, in such
terms as these:- "You write that your desire is earnest to
see me. DEAR SISTER, IF I SHOULD EXPRESS THE THIRST AND
LANGUOR WHICH I HAVE HAD FOR YOUR PRESENCE, I SHOULD APPEAR
TO PASS MEASURE. . . YEA, I WEEP AND REJOICE IN REMEMBRANCE
OF YOU; but that would evanish by the comfort of your
presence, which I assure you is so dear to me, that if the
charge of this little flock here, gathered together in
Christ's name, did not impede me, my coming should prevent my
letter." (5) I say that this was written from Geneva; and
yet you will observe that it is no consideration for his wife
or mother-in-law, only the charge of his little flock, that
keeps him from setting out forthwith for London, to comfort
himself with the dear presence of Mrs. Locke. Remember that
was a certain plausible enough pretext for Mrs. Locke to come
to Geneva - "the most perfect school of Christ that ever was
on earth since the days of the Apostles" - for we are now
under the reign of that "horrible monster Jezebel of
England," when a lady of good orthodox sentiments was better
out of London.
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