The Reformed Doctrines make no Progress
Meanwhile, however, the Reformed doctrines were making no progress, and this, in the opinion of those who ruled in the young King’s name, was a matter of vital importance. In February 1551 the Deputy received positive orders to introduce into Ireland the new Liturgy, which ” we have to be translated into our mother-tongue of this realm of England,” and to have its use enforced in the churches.
Very reluctantly, St. Leger summoned the bishops who had either conformed were originally of royal creation, and cmmunicated to them the King’s communicated to them the King’s command.
These were in general very ill received. ” Then shall every illiterate fellow read Mass,” said Dowdall the Primate ; and after a heated discussion, he quitted the assembly in great wrath, followed by several other prelates. Browne, of course, professed his readiness to submit to any orders received from ” Our gracious King,” “making no question why or wherefore.” But only Staples of Meath and the Bishops of Kildare and Leighlin followed his example.
Attempts to spread the reformation failed .In the face of resistance so widespread on the part of the very dignitaries of the Reformed Church, it was obviously impossible to enforce the use of the new Liturgy. Almost everywhere the services were conducted as before. The offenders were too numerous to punish, and the Deputy refrained from futile attempts to enforce the law. As, in addition, he openly expressed his opinion that it would have been better to avoid all this ” hurly-burly ” by letting the religious question alone, the English Ministers grew angry at his want of zeal. In May 1551 he was recalled, and Sir James Crofts sent in his place.The new Deputy, considering that his difficulties in dealing with Church matters would be much lessened if he could induce the bishops at least to agree in obedience to the King’s commands, arranged a discussion between representatives of the opposing parties. The meeting took place at St. Mary’s Abbey. As might have been anticipated, no agreement was arrived at; each disputant remained in the position in which he had started. Dowdall, who, though appointed by the King and consecrated without the Pope’s authority, had appeared on the Catholic side, soon afterwards left the country, remaining in exile till after the death of Edward.
It soon appeared that, in the promotion of the new doctrines and the new services, Crofts could accomplish no more than St. Leger. With very few exceptions, clergy and laity obstinately persisted in disobedience, and to compel them to even outward conformity, the Deputy had neither sufficient power nor sufficient money. In the lands of the chiefs that is to say over the greater part of the country, there was no change in the services, and the Mass was celebrated as it always had been. But in and around the Pale all sorts of modifications were to be found. Sometimes the Mass was translated into English ; sometimes portions were omitted. Some priests preached the doctrine of the Royal Supremacy, while otherwise they maintained the Catholic doctrine and ritual unchanged. Of a great many, even of the bishops, it is difficult to say whether or not they conformed.
