ABSTRACT
The mutations of the British Parliamentary system would of course be immensely illuminating if properly understood. Henry VIII seems to have had despotic power over his Parliament. He could terrorize it to some extent by threats or punishment of individual members, but the real power was in the Parliament, just the same. The historic fact which attests that is the necessity he was under of getting Parliament to settle the succession and make him Head of the Church. The truth is that since the Reformation in England the power of Parliament has been absolute in principle, and has even been asserted as such: "Parliament can do anything." The long story of the English parliament would be peculiarly instructive. General Monk took a standing jump from a sort of melting ice-cake to meet Charles II as the parliamentary power resumed and required the Crown again as "dead center" for its function.
