The statement that best describes the development of England as a nation-state is:
**As the need for protection gradually decreased, feudalism was replaced by monarchs who ruled by laws and legal precedent. Eventually, Parliament became more powerful than the monarch.**
This statement accurately reflects the transition from feudalism to a centralized monarchy and the gradual rise of parliamentary power, highlighting the evolution of governance in England. The other options contain inaccuracies regarding historical events and the roles of Parliament and the monarchy.