The opening of Chapter XXIV
Influence of the Union of the Crowns upon Scotland.
AT the opening of this period, it may be recalled that it was not the head of the Government who reformed the Church in Scotland. The change of religion was carried through in opposition to Queen Mary and the representatives of her rights; while her son only accepted the reformed doctrines. From his youth, indeed, he had manifested a strong aversion to the polity of the Reformed Church of his kingdom. In past times the Crown had always found support from its connection with the hierarchy; and nothing was more natural than that James VI. should endeavour to restore Episcopacy whenever he could command the power to do so. He was inflexibly possessed with the idea that Episcopacy must be established in Scotland; but the means which he employed to attain this end were unwise and short-sighted. He was convinced that kingly government could not exist side by side with a Presbyterian Church; and he had mused so long on this view of the matter, that at last it assumed the place of an idol in his mind.