ABSTRACT
Henry VIII's reign after the fall of Wolsey, and those of Edward VI and Mary I, were exceptions, in that Parliament met virtually every year. As a consequence of this concentrated activity the nature of Parliament changed, along with that of statute. Sir Thomas Smith, writing in 1565, declared that the most high and absolute power of the realm of England consisteth in the Parliament. This body abrogateth old laws, maketh new, giveth orders for things past and for things hereafter to be followed. Its supreme authority derived from the fact that every Englishman is intended to be there present, either in person or by procuration and the consent of the Parliament is taken to be every man's consent. The transformation of Parliament's position could be hardly have been foreseen prior to 1529, for under Wolsey relations between it and the government reached their nadir.
