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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 July 2009
Although the exact date is not known, Robert Browne was born about the year 1550 at Tolethorpe Hall, which is the Manor House of Little Casterfon, a Rutlandshire village a few miles from Stamford. The house appears to have been owned by the Browne family since 1377, when it was bought by John Browne, alderman of Stamford (1374–6, -7) and “wool-merchant engaged in the staple of Calais.” A son of this original owner was named John, and also served as alderman. So, in turn, did his son John, who held he office three times. This third John Browne began the much needed work of restoring All Saints Church in Stamford, a fine building of Norman type which had suffered severe damage in the War of the Roses. The restoration was carried on and completed by his two sons, John and William, who also continued the family tradition of public service: John was alderman of Stamford in 1448, 1453, 1462; William was several times alderman as well as sheriff of Rutland and Lincoln counties, and founder in 1484 of Browne Hospital, the Bede House of Stamford, which still stands opposite the Corn Market.
1 This material on Robert Browne's ancestry is based on Cater's article, “Robert Browne's Ancestors and Descendants,” in Transactions of the Congregational Historical Society, II, No. 3, 151ff.Google Scholar Cater quotes the provision that John Browne became owner of the “Mannour of Tolethorpe together with all its appurtenances, and the perpetual Advowson of the Chappel of the same: also all his lands, tenements, rents and services in the village of Little Casterton with the Reversion of the Patronage of the Church of the same.”
2 Cater points out that this great-great-uncle of Robert Browne purchased Lilford Hall, less than one half mile from Achurch, Robert Browne's parish for forty years.
3 Heylyn, , Aerius Redivivus: or, the History of the Presbyterians, etc. (Oxford, 1670), 295.Google Scholar
4 Powicke, , Robert Browne, Pioneer of Modern Congregationalism (London, 1910), 11Google Scholar, points out that Browne conducted Pickering's funeral in 1599, Titchmarsh being near Achurch.
5 Browne, , A True and Short Declaration, Both of the Gathering and Ioyning Together of Certaine Persons: and also of the Lamentable Breach and Diuision which Fell Amongst Them (Middleburgh, 1584!)Google Scholar, sig. A recto, (reprinted London, 1888).
6 Crippen, , Introduction to the reprint of Browne's A Treatise of Reformation, etc. (London 1903), 5.Google Scholar Jessopp notes this coincidence of dates without comment in Dictionary of National Biography (63 vols. and later supplements, London, from 1885), VII, 57.Google Scholar
7 Evidently Robert's next older brother.
8 True & Short Declaration, sig. A recto.
9 Powiek, op. cit., 15.
10 Crippen, op. cit., 6.
11 Pierce, , John Penry, His Life, Times, and Writing (London, 1923), 322.Google Scholar Reasons for doubting this theory will be seen below.
12 Burrage, , The True Story of Robert Browne (Oxford, 1906), 2, 65.Google Scholar
13 T. & S. D., sig. A recto.
14 T. & S. D., sig. A reeto.
15 Ibid.
16 Pierce, op. cit., 322.
17 T. & S. D., sig. A reeto.
18 T. & S. D., sig. A reeto & verso.
19 T. & S. D., sig. A verso.
20 T. & S. D., sig. A verso.
21 Dexter, , The Congregationalism of the Last Three Hundred Years as Seen in 1ts Literature (London, 1880), 92,Google Scholar cites Greenham's good opinion as favorable evidence for Browne.
22 T. & S. D., sig. A verso.
23 Ibid.
24 Fuller, , Church History of Britain (London, 1842, original edition 1655), III, 62.Google Scholar
25 Browne deals at length with this in T. & S. D., sig. A verso to sig. A3 verso.
26 Apparently he means Philip once more.
27 T. & S. D., sig. A3 verso. Powicke, op. cit., 19, gives the license date, June 7, 1579. Burrage, op. cit., 5f, gives the Latin text and translations of the Dismissory Letters (June 6, 1579) and the License to Preach (June 7, 1579).
28 T. & S. D., sig. A3 verso.
29 T. & S. D., sig. A4 recto.
30 Powicke, op. cit., 21f, gives proof that this was Richard Bancroft, later Bishop Baneroft, who quoted Browne at Paul's Cross in February, 1588/9.
31 T. & S. D., sig. A4 recto. Burrage, op. cit., 8, quotes from the Council's letter.
32 T. & S. D., sig. A4 recto & verso. Personal knowledge of the region seems lacking to him.
33 T. & S. D., sig. A4 recto.
34 The story may be found in Strype, , The Life and Acts of Matthew Parker (London, 1711), 449fGoogle Scholar; and Annals of the Reformation (London, 1925, reprinted in 4 vols.Google Scholar, Oxford 1824), in vol II of which the story is told on p. 434.
35 A Parte of a Register (Edinburgh, 1593), 365–370.Google Scholar
36 Burrage, , New Facts Concerning John Robinson (Oxford, 1910), 21Google Scholar, thinks Browne's ideas of church polity were influenced by what he knew of More's church, (St. Andrews, Norwich).
37 Peel, , Calendar of the Second Parts of a Register (Cambridge, 1915), 143ff.Google Scholar
38 Peel, , Calendar, etc., 157Google Scholar if, gives the substance of this, together with the names of the 175 signers.
39 Peel, , The Brownists in Norwich and Norfolk about 1580 (Cambridge, 1920), 6ffGoogle Scholar, shows that this supplication must have been written in 1580; he points out these names.
40 T. & S. D., sig. B1 verso.
41 Ibid., C3 verso.
42 Ibid., C4 recto.
43 Peel, , Brownists, 9Google Scholar, says that this statement is first given without any citing of authority in Blore, History and Antiquities of Rutlandshire.
44 Hanbury, , Historical Memorials Relating to the Independents, or Congregationalists (London, 1839), I, 19Google Scholar, gives this from Lansdowne MSS. 33 (No. 13). Strype, , Annals, III, 21f.Google Scholar, does likewise. Burrage, , True Story, 14Google Scholar, quotes it with original spelling as it stands in the manuscript.
45 T. & S. D., sig. C2 recto.
46 Fuller, op. cit., III, 62f.
47 T. & S. D., sig. C2 verso.
48 Hanbury, op. cit., I, 20, quotes Lansdowne MSS. 33 (No. 20); Burrage (as above) 15f, gives the original spelling as well.
49 Strype, , Annals, III, 172.Google Scholar
50 Strype, , Annals, III, 30fGoogle Scholar, gives the full text. Dexter, op. cit., 70, gives the dates as here quoted.
51 Fuller, op. cit., III, 65.
52 T. & S. D., sig. C2 verso.
53 Ibid., sig. C3 recto.
54 Copies with all three are very rare, as Burrage points out, True Story, 18.
55 Painter is, of course, the English for Schilders.
56 S. (tephen) B. (redwell), the Rasing of the Foundations of Brownisme (London, 1588)Google Scholar sig. A2 verso.
57 Pearson, , Thomas Cartwright and Elizabethan Puritanism (Cambridge, 1925), 212Google Scholar, cites State Papers Eliz. Holl. and Fland. XVI, No. 113.
58 Ibid., 214f, quotes these State Papers, XVII, No. 3.
59 T. & S. D., sig. C3 recto and verso.
60 T. & S. D., sig. C3 recto and verso.
61 Ibid., sig. C3 verso.
62 T. & S. D., sig. C4 recto.
63 Ibid.
64 T. & S. D., sig. C4 recto and verso.
65 Ibid., sig. C4 verso.
66 S. B., Rasing the Foundation, sig. A2 verso.
67 Burrage, , The Early English Dissenters in the Light of Recent Research (Cambridge, 1912), I, 106Google Scholar, quotes this passage from Harrison's Little Treatise.
68 Dexter, op. cit., 210, quotes from Lansdowne MSS. 38. (No. 64).
69 Strype, , Annals, III, 269.Google Scholar
70 Queene Elizabeth's Proclamations (Grenville Collection)Google Scholar, fol. 225.
71 This and subsequent quotations in this paragraph are from Calderwood, , History of the Kirk of Scotland (Woodrow Soc. ed., 8 vols., Edinburgh, 1843), IV, 1ff.Google Scholar
72 Ibid., III, 230ff.
73 Browne's letter to his uncle, MrFlower, , 1588 (published as A New Year's Guift, London, 1904), 26f.Google Scholar
74 M'Crie, , Life of Andrew Melville (Edinburgh, 1819), I, 325.Google Scholar
75 Ibid., I, 265–294; Dictionary of National Biography, XXXVII, 232f; Historical Memoirs of Andrew Melville (London, 1830), 107–154.Google Scholar
76 Basilicon Doron or His Maiesties Instructions to His Dearest Sonne Henry the Prince (London, according to the copie printed at Edinburgh, 1603)Google Scholar, sig. A4 verso.
77 A New Years Guift, 26; Bancroft, , A Sermon Preached at Paules Crosse, etc. (London, 1588), 75.Google Scholar
78 Cater, , “Robert Browne's Ancestors and Descendants ” (Trans. of C. H. S.), II 155.Google Scholar
79 S. B., , Basing the Foundations of Brownisme, 142Google Scholar (erroneously marked 102) f.
80 Powicke, , Robert Browne, 40.Google Scholar
81 Burrage, , The Early English Dissenters, I, 112.Google Scholar
82 S. B., , Rasing the Foundations, 135.Google Scholar
83 Browne, , An Answere to Master Cartwright; His Letter for loyning with the English Churches (London, 1585).Google Scholar
84 Fuller, , Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture, III, 63f,Google Scholar quotes a letter from Burgbley to Brown's father (given below) to this effect.
85 S. B., , Rasing the Foundations, 135.Google Scholar
86 A New Years Guift, 43.
86a This judgement of Burghley and Whitgift is based on Hume, , The Great Lord Burghley (London, 1898)Google Scholar, and the picture of Whitgift as given in Strype, , Life and Acts of John Whitgift (London, 1718).Google Scholar
87 S. B., , Rasing the Foundations, 127–140.Google Scholar
88 Ibid., 142 (erroneously marked 102) f.
89 Ibid.
90 Fuller confused his dates, thinking this was after the Lord Treasurer's death.
91 Fuller, , Church History, III, 65.Google Scholar
92 Burrage, , True Btory of Robert Browne, 58.Google Scholar
93 Fuller, , Church History, III, 63fGoogle Scholar, gives the date as October 8, but incorrectly states that it was in 1584.
94 Ibid. The date is February 17, 1585/1586.
95 Collier, , An Ecclesiastical History, (London, 1714), II, 582.Google Scholar
96 Bibliotheca Scriptorum Ecclesiae Anglicanae; or a collection of Tracts Relating to the Government and Authority of the Church (London, 1709), xiif.Google Scholar
97 Ibid., xiii.
98 Hanbury, , Historical Memorials Relating to the Independents, or Congregationalists (London, 1839), I, 23f.Google Scholar
99 Dexter, , Congregationalism, 81.Google Scholar
100 Browne, , A Treatise of Reformation (London, 1903), 8Google Scholar; Dictionary of Nat'l. Biog.. VII, 60.
101 Burrage, , True Story, 41–3.Google Scholar
102 Cater, , “New Facts Relating to Robert Browne ” an article in Transactions of the C. H. S., II, 239f.Google Scholar Cater, who at this time rejected the excommunication story entirely, thought it was based on this case against Browne.
103 Powicke, , Robert Browne, 43f.Google Scholar
104 Burrage, , True Story, 44f.Google Scholar, quotes the complete document from the “Minute Book of St. Olave's School.” Dexter, , Congregationalism, 81f.Google Scholar, cites Waddington. Browue received £20 per annum.
105 S. B., Rasing the Foundations, 1f., “The doubts and objections of a certaine disciple.”
106 Ibid., 3–10. “The First Answere.”
107 Ibid., 11—(number not printed)—60. “The Second Answere.”
108 Ibid., 41.
109 Ibid., 50f.
110 S. B., Rasing the Foundations, 61–145, “A Defence of the Admonition.”
111 Ibid., 65. Dexter and Crippen offer this as proof that Bredwell, a physician, considered Browne insane!
112 Ibid., 112.
113 Ibid., 114.
114 Ibid., 115.
115 S. B., , Rasing the Foundations, 126.Google Scholar
116 Ibid., 134f.
117 Ibid., 138.
118 Ibid., 139f.
119 Browne, A Reproofe of Certeine Schismaticall Persons, and their Doctrine touching the Hearing and Preaching of the Word of God, written in 1588; published under the title, The Retractation of Robert Browne (Oxford, 1907).Google Scholar
120 Pearson, , Thomas Cartwright, 312.Google Scholar
121 The Retractation, 3f, 19–21, 27ff, 51f, 63.
122 Ibid., 4ff, 10–16.
123 Ibid., 6ff, 22, 26f, 35ff, 51.
124 Ibid., 29f, 55f.
125 Ibid., 59–63.
126 Ibid., 56ff.
127 S. B., Rasing the Foundations, sig. A recto and verso.
128 Burrage, , True Story, 62.Google Scholar
129 Published under title: A New Years Guift (London, 1904).Google Scholar
130 Ibid., 43.
131 Baneroft, , A Sermon Preached at Paules Crosse the 9. of Februarie, being the first Sunday in the Parleament, Anno 1588 (London, 1588), 75f.Google Scholar
132 Basilicon Doron, sig. A4 verso.
133 A Briefe Discovery of the Vntruthes and Slanders (Against the True Government of the Church of Christ) contained in a Sertnon preached the 8. of Februarie 1588 by D. Bancroft (Probably printed in Edinburgh, 1590), 44.Google Scholar
134 Hanbury, , Memorials, I, 24,Google Scholar quotes (with corrected spelling) Lansdowne MSS. 103 (No. 60). Hanbury thinks Burghley used Browne as his own tool.
135 Powicke, , Robert Browne, 48.Google Scholar
136 Browne, , A Treatise vpon the 23. of Matthewe (Middleburgh, 1582)Google Scholar, sig. D3 verso.
137 Ibid., Sig. E verso.
138 Ibid., Sig. E verso.
139 A Treatise vpon the 23. of Matihewe Sig. F verso.
140 Ibid., Sig. F2 verso.
141 Browne, , A Booke Which Sheweth the life and manners of all true Christians and how vnlike they are vnto Turkes and Papistes and Heathen folke (Middleburgh, 1582).Google Scholar
142 Lansdowne MSS. 64 (No. 34) quoted by Strype, , Life and Acts of John Whitgift, III, 229f.Google Scholar
143 Dexter, , Congregationalism, 122.Google Scholar
144 Powicke, , Robert Browne, 49.Google Scholar
145 A New Years Guift, 35.
146 Cater, , “New Facts Relating to Robert Browne ” in Transactions of the C. H. S., II, 240fGoogle Scholar; Serjeantson, , History of the Church of St. Giles, Northampton (Northampton, 1911), 194.Google Scholar Both cite Institution Book of the Diocese of Peterborough.
147 Cater and Serjeantson, Ibid.
148 Ibid.
149 Serjeantson, 194.
150 Facts on Browne's family and church register are based on two articles by Cater, , “Robert Browne's Ancestors and Descendants,” Trans. of C. H. S., II, 151ffGoogle Scholar; and “Robert Browne and the Achureh Parish Register,” Trans. C. H. S., III, 126ff.Google Scholar
151 Dexter, , Congregationalism, 122.Google Scholar
152 Cater, “Robert Browne and the Aehurch Parish Register,” 127–133.
153 Dexter, , Congregationalism, 117Google Scholar; Powicke, , Robert Browne 51.Google Scholar
154 Cater, , “The Later Years of Robert Browne ” in Trans. of C. H. S., III, 303.Google Scholar
155 Ibid.
156 Ibid., 304.
157 Cater, “The Later Years of Robert Browne,” 304.
158 Ibid., 305.
159 Ibid., 306.
160 Cater, “The Later Years,” 307; Serjeantson, op. cit., 195.
161 Cater, Ibid., 308; Dictionary of National Biography, XV, 380, gives Fuller as authority for saying that although Bishop Dove was twice charged with remissness for allowing silenced ministers to preach, he had a reputation for great strictness. Perhaps some of the “schisme” party bore tales of Browne's laxness to him.
162 Cater, “The Later Years,” 307; Serjeantson, op. cit., 195.
163 Cater, Ibid., 308. This is what actually occurred instead of the excommunication suggested by Burrage, or the detention suggested by Dexter.
164 Cater, Ibid., 307.
165 Cater, “New Facts Relating to Robert Browne,” 243 ff.
166 Fuller, , Church History, III, 65.Google Scholar
167 Baillie, , A Dissvasive From the Errours of the Time (London, 1645), 14.Google Scholar
168 Dexter, , Congregationalism, 88Google Scholar, quoting Pagit, , Heresiography (ed. 1654), 58.Google Scholar Hanbury, , Memorials, I, 24Google Scholar, quotes the first edition (1645).
169 Cater, “The Later Years,” 309; Serjeantson, op. cit., 196.
170 Cater and Serjeantson, Ibid.
171 Cater, Ibid.
172 Cater, “Robert Browne and the … Register,” 135.
173 Cater, “The Later Years of Robert Browne,” 310.
174 Cater, “The Later Years,” 310.
175 Cater, “… Browne and the… Register,” 136.
176 He had been dean of Peterborough for eight years, and then was consecrated as bishop on October 24, 1630. Dictionary of Nat'l. Biography, XLV, 272.Google Scholar
177 Piers must have known of the 10 years' suspension as well as other circumstances connected with the dispute at Achurch.
178 Cater, “The Later Years,” 311f; Serjeautson, op. cit., 196f.
179 Cater, “The Later Years of Robert Browue,” 313f.
180 The following month, Piers was translated to Bath and Wells; Diet, of Nat'l. Biog., XLV, 272.Google Scholar
181 Serjeantson, op. cit., 197, quotes Instance Book of Peterborough Registry.
182 Ibid., 197 f.
183 Serjeantson, op. cit., 198f. quotes Correction Books (Peterborough Registry).
184 Fuller, , Church History, II, 66.Google Scholar
185 Baillie, , A Dissvasive, 14.Google Scholar
186 Serjeantson, op. cit., 201.
187 Ibid.
188 Transactions of the C. H. S., V, (1912).
189 Burrage, , “The Early English Dissenters, I, xiii.Google Scholar
190 Serjeantson, op. cit., 201 f.
191 Burrage, , Early English Dissenters, xiii.Google Scholar
192 Transactions of the Congregational Historical Society, X, (1927), 8ff.Google Scholar
