The innovations in religion obliged the king afterwards to call these assemblies more frequently; but though these were the most important transactions that ever fell under the cognizance of parliament, their devoted submission to Henry's will, added to their earnest desire of soon returning to their country seats, produced a quick despatch of the bills, and made the sessions of short duration.

All the king's caprices were indeed blindly complied with, and no regard was paid to the safety or liberty of the subject.
Besides the violent prosecution of whatever he was pleased to term heresy, the laws of treason were multiplied beyond all former precedent.
Even words to the disparagement of the king, queen, or royal issue, were subjected to that penalty; and so little care was taken in framing these rigorous statutes, that they contain obvious contradictions; insomuch that, had they been strictly executed, every man, without exception, must have fallen under the penalty of treason.

By one statute,[**] for instance, it was declared treason to assert the validity of the king's marriage, either with Catharine of Arragon or Anne Boleyn; by another,[***] it was treason to say any thing to the disparagement or slander of the princesses Mary and Elizabeth; and to call them spurious would, no doubt, have been construed to their slander.

Nor would even a profound silence with regard to these delicate points be able to save a person from such penalties.

For by the former statute, whoever refused to answer upon oath to any point contained in that act, was subjected to the pains of treason.