where most misery reigneth)--the
collection and applying of God's mercies, I say, were unto me as
the breaking and handling with my own hands of the most sweet
and delectable unguents, whereof I could not but receive some
comfort by their natural sweet odours.'[40]

The sympathy that flows through this beautiful passage comes out very
strongly in another written in bodily illness. His importunate
correspondent had proposed to call for him in Newcastle that very day.
Knox suggests to-morrow instead.

'This day ye know to be the day of my study and prayer unto God;
yet if your trouble be intolerable, or if ye think my presence
may release your pain, do as the Spirit shall move you, for you
know that I will be offended with nothing that you do in God's
name. And O, how glad would I be to feed the hungry and give
medicine to the sick! Your messenger found me in bed, after a
sore trouble and most dolorous night, and so dolour may complain
to dolour when we two meet.'[41]

Another letter, also to Mrs Bowes, is from London, and reveals a very
remarkable scene. He acknowledges receiving one letter from Marjory, and
one from her mother, the latter, as usual, full of complaint.

'The very instant hour that your letter was presented unto me,
was I talking of you, by reason that three honest poor women
were come to me, and were complaining their great infirmity, and
were showing unto me the great assaults of the enemy, and I was
opening the cause and commodities thereof, whereby all our eyes
wept at once; and I was praying unto God that ye and some others
had been there with me for the space of two hours. And even at
that instant came your letters to my hands; whereof one part I
read unto them, and one of them said, "O would to God I might
speak with that person, for I perceive that there be more
tempted than I."'[42]

The persuasive ingenuity which would suggest to the Lady of Norham that
she was a source not only of comfort but of strength to those troubled
like herself, turns out much to our advantage. For Knox puts _himself_,
first of all, in the place of those whom he would either advise or
console. And in the earliest dated letter of his which we possess there
is a vivid picture of what took place between two people who were much
in earnest, three and a half centuries ago, about this life and the
next. Knox has written fully to M