overeign's household--or
any other body of offices--in whatever degree he may think requisite,
and the late Prince Albert could not even appoint his own private
secretary, but much to his chagrin had to accept one appointed for him
by the Prime Minister. See May's "Constitutional History of England"
and Martin's "Life of the Prince Consort."

Custom, too, has decided that the Sovereign must sanction every bill
which Parliament approves and resolves to make law. Queen Anne was
the last occupant of the English throne who ventured to veto a bill,
by refusing to assent to it. That was in 1707, or more than two
hundred years ago, and there is little probability that any wearer of
the crown will ever attempt to do what she did. In fact, an able and
authoritative English writer has not hesitated to declare that if the
two Houses of Parliament should agree to send the reigning Sovereign
his own death warrant, he would be obliged to sign it, or abdicate.[1]

[1] See Bagehot's "The English Constitution."

An English sovereign's real position to-day is that of a person who
has much indirect influence and but little direct power,--far less in
fact than that of the President of the United States; for the latter
can veto a bill, and can remove any or all of his cabinet officers at
pleasure.

588. The House of Lords in the Past and To-day.

A change equally great was taking place with respect to the Peers, or
Lords.[2] As that body has played a most important part in the
government of England and still retains considerable influence, it may
be well to consider its history and present condition.

[2] Peers (from the Latin pares, equals): The word first occurs in an
act of Parliament, 1321,--"Pares et proceres regni Angliae spirituales
et temporales." The name Peers, referring to the House of Lords, is
here limited, as it has been ever since, to the higher clergy (now
consisting of certain bishops) and to the hereditary nobility.

It will be remembered that the peerage originated with the Norman
Conquest. William rewarded the barons, or chief men, who fought under
him at Hastings[3] with grants of immense estates, which were given on
two conditions: one of military service at the call of the Sovereign
(S150); the other their attendance, when required, at the Great or
Royal Council (S144), an advisory and legislative body which contained
the germ of what later came to be called Parliament.

It will thus be seen that the Co