Meanwhile the Reformer returned to Geneva (April 1555), where Calvin was now supreme.

From Geneva, "the den of mine own ease, the rest of quiet study," Knox was dragged, "maist contrarious to mine own judgement," by a summons from Mrs.Bowes.

He did not like leaving his "den" to rejoin his betrothed; the lover was not so fervent as the evangelist was cautious.
Knox had at that time probably little correspondence with Scotland.

He knew that there was no refuge for him in England under Mary Tudor, "who nowise may abide the presence of God's prophets." In Scotland, at this moment, the Government was in the hands of Mary of Guise, a sister of the Duke of Guise and of the Cardinal.

Mary was now aged forty; she was born in 1515, as Knox probably was.