on, by intimidation,
by violent exertions of prerogative, by fraudulent distortions of law,
an assembly which might call itself a Parliament, and might be willing
to register any edict of the Sovereign. Returning officers must be
appointed who would avail themselves of the slightest pretence to
declare the King's friends duly elected. Every placeman, from the
highest to the lowest, must be made to understand that, if he wished to
retain his office, he must, at this conjuncture, support the throne by
his vote and interest. The High Commission meanwhile would keep its eye
on the clergy. The boroughs, which had just been remodelled to serve one
turn, might be remodelled again to serve another. By such means the
King hoped to obtain a majority in the House of Commons. The Upper
House would then be at his mercy. He had undoubtedly by law the power of
creating peers without limit: and this power he was fully determined
to use. He did not wish, and indeed no sovereign can wish, to make the
highest honour which is in the gift of the crown worthless. He cherished
the hope that, by calling up some heirs apparent to the assembly in
which they must ultimately sit, and by conferring English titles on some
Scotch and Irish Lords, he might be able to secure a majority without
ennobling new men in such numbers as to bring ridicule on the coronet
and the ermine. But there was no extremity to which he was not prepared
to go in case of necessity. When in a large company an opinion was
expressed that the peers would prove intractable, "Oh, silly," cried
Sunderland, turning to Churchill, "your troop of guards shall be called
up to the House of Lords." [310]

Having determined to pack a Parliament, James set himself energetically
and methodically to the work. A proclamation appeared in the Gazette,
announcing that the King had determined to revise the Commissions of
Peace and of Lieutenancy, and to retain in public employment only such
gentlemen as should be disposed to support his policy. [311] A committee
of seven Privy Councillors sate at Whitehall, for the purpose of
regulating--such was the phrase--the municipal corporations. In this
committee Jeffreys alone represented the Protestant interest. Powis
alone represented the moderate Roman Catholics. All the other members
belonged to the Jesuitical faction. Among them was Petre, who had just
been sworn of the Council. Till he took his seat at the board, his
elevation had been kept a profou