During this Parliament there were some signs of opposition to Mary’s religious changes. Attempts to confiscate property from the Protestants who had left England were resisted by MPs. They also rejected a plan to send church taxes directly to Rome. Instead, Mary had to say these taxes would go the ‘church’. She then sent the money on to Rome herself, although 126 MPs voted against this measure too.
Historians argue about whether there was a real Protestant opposition to Mary. However, her reign was not wholly popular, especially when the last town England owned in France, Calais, was lost in 1558. Mary herself died soon afterwards, childless.
Mary's Fourth Parliament
October- December 1555
Mary was so desperate for a Catholic heir for England she had two phantom pregnancies. She twice had all the signs of pregnancy but both times no baby arrived. Despite this, she still named her Protestant half-sister, Elizabeth, as her heir.