The bishops abstained from compliance with the order to erase the Pope's name out of their mass-books.

The pulpits remained steadily silent.

When Browne ordered the destruction of the images and relics in his own cathedral, he had to report that the prior and canons "find them so sweet for their gain that they heed not my words." Cromwell however was resolute for a religious uniformity between the two islands, and the Primate borrowed some of his patron's vigour.

Recalcitrant priests were thrown into prison, images were plucked down from the rood-loft, and the most venerable of Irish relics, the staff of St.Patrick, was burned in the market-place.

But he found no support in his vigour save from across the Channel.