490 KElGN OF ELIZABETH. CH. 6? to approach the Catholics, yet without submitting to the Pope ; to retain his independence and hold himself prepared for any event this was a course which at once suited Arran's avarice, and James's conception of poli- tics. The object to James was to take such a position, that whether there was a Catholic revolution or whether the Reformation held its ground, the English succession should still be open to him. His plan therefore was to follow the road which had been opened by Lennox, to force bishops upon the Kirk, on the terms on which they were established in England, and to make himself head of the Church on Elizabeth's pattern. Thus prepared he could wait upon fortune. If England was conquered by the Catholic Powers he could plead that he had done his best to destroy Calvinism. If Elizabeth held her ground, he might please her by imitating her ex- ample perhaps tempt her to marry him, 1 induce her at any rate to recognize him as her successor, to the exclusion of his mother, as the price of the Scotch al- liance. It was a game too much after Elizabeth's own method not to attract and interest her. It was some- thing, at any rate, to entertain, to handle, and to play with. The young King went vigorously forward. After Gowrie's execution a Parliament was called at Edin- burgh which gave the Crown supreme ecclesiastical 1 'It is true that the wooing matter is set abroad, but we hold it here but for dalliance.' Walsiug- ham to Davison, July I II : MSS. Scotland,
