The five parliaments of Mary's reign have traditionally been regarded as crucial in the development of the House of Commons and of opposition to the Crown. This study, which describes the summoning, procedure, and management of parliament in the mid-16th century, is the first detailed account of these five parliaments. By showing that Mary, like her father and sister, was able to implement unpopular policies without alientating her most important subjects, the book provides strong new evidence of the strong bonds between Tudor monarchs and the property-owning class.