Thomas Broke
Encyclopedia
Thomas Broke or Brooke translator, was an alderman
of Calais
, the chief clerk of the exchequer and customer there at the time when the preaching of William Smith at Our Lady's Church in that town led many persons, and Broke among them, to adopt 'reformed' opinions.
Broke was a member of parliament, sitting probably for Calais, and in July 1539 spoke strongly against the Six Articles Bill, though Cromwell
sent to warn him to forbear doing so as he loved his life. Part of his speech is preserved by Foxe (Acts and Monuments, v. 503). He was roughly answered by Sir William Kingston, comptroller of the king's household, who was reproved by the speaker for his attempt to interfere with the freedom of debate.
The next month, at the trial of Hare, a soldier of Calais, for heresy
, Broke interfered on the prisoner's behalf, and was rebuked by the Dean of Arches
. Half an hour later he found himself accused of the same crime on the information of the council of Calais, and on 10 Aug. was committed to the Fleet Prison
along with John Butler, a priest of the same town, who was also a 'sacramentary
.' As, however, the Calais witnesses could prove nothing against him, he was released.
In 1540, 32 Henry VIII, the king demised two chapels in the parish of Monkton
, in the liberty of the Cinque Ports
, to a Thomas Broke for 42l. 7s. 11d. (Hasted, Kent, iv. 340 n.) As Broke the translator was paymaster of Dover
in 1549 (see below), it is at least possible that he was the lessee.
Another attempt was made against Broke in the spring of 1540. His servant was imprisoned by the council of Calais and strictly examined as to his master's conduct, and 'the second Monday after Easter' Broke was committed to the mayor's gaol, 'whither no man of his calling was ever committed unless sentence of death had first been pronounced upon him;' for otherwise he should have been imprisoned in a brother alderman's house. All his goods were seized, and his wife and children thrust into a mean part of his house by Sir Edward Kingston. Indignant at such treatment, Mistress Broke answered a threat of Kingston's with 'Well, sir, well, the king's slaughter-house had wrong when you were made a gentleman' (Foxe, v. 576). She wrote to complain to Cromwell and to other friends, and, finding that her letters were seized by the council, sent a secret messenger to England
to carry the news of the sufferings of her husband and of those imprisoned with him. On receiving her message, Cromwell ordered that the prisoners should be sent over for trial, and on May Day
they were led through the streets of Calais, Broke being in irons as the 'chief captain' of the rest. Broke was committed to the Fleet, and lay there for about two years. At the end of that time he and his twelve companions were released 'in very poor estate.'
In 1550 the name of Thomas Broke occurs among the chief sectaries of Kent
. Although from the character of his literary work it is impossible to suppose that Broke the translator could have been one of the 'Anabaptists and Pelagians' spoken of by Strype (Memorials, II. i. 369), yet if, as seems likely, he was dissatisfied with the new Book of Common Prayer
, he may have belonged to a separate congregation, and so have been described as sharing the opinions of the majority of the sectaries of the district.
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, the chief clerk of the exchequer and customer there at the time when the preaching of William Smith at Our Lady's Church in that town led many persons, and Broke among them, to adopt 'reformed' opinions.
Broke was a member of parliament, sitting probably for Calais, and in July 1539 spoke strongly against the Six Articles Bill, though Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
sent to warn him to forbear doing so as he loved his life. Part of his speech is preserved by Foxe (Acts and Monuments, v. 503). He was roughly answered by Sir William Kingston, comptroller of the king's household, who was reproved by the speaker for his attempt to interfere with the freedom of debate.
The next month, at the trial of Hare, a soldier of Calais, for heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
, Broke interfered on the prisoner's behalf, and was rebuked by the Dean of Arches
Dean of Arches
The Dean of Arches is the judge who sits at the ecclesiastical court of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. This appeal court is commonly called the Arches Court....
. Half an hour later he found himself accused of the same crime on the information of the council of Calais, and on 10 Aug. was committed to the Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the Fleet River in London. The prison was built in 1197 and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846.- History :...
along with John Butler, a priest of the same town, who was also a 'sacramentary
Sacramentary
The Sacramentary is a book of the Middle Ages containing the words spoken by the priest celebrating a Mass and other liturgies of the Church. The books were usually in fact written for bishops or other higher clegy such as abbots, and many lavishly decorated illuminated manuscript sacramentaries...
.' As, however, the Calais witnesses could prove nothing against him, he was released.
In 1540, 32 Henry VIII, the king demised two chapels in the parish of Monkton
Monkton, Kent
Monkton is a village and civil parish in the Thanet District of Kent, England. The village is located at the south-western edge of the Isle of Thanet and is situated mainly along the B2047 road, leading off the A263 road between Canterbury and Ramsgate. The civil parish stretches south to the...
, in the liberty of the Cinque Ports
Cinque Ports
The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. It lies at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
, to a Thomas Broke for 42l. 7s. 11d. (Hasted, Kent, iv. 340 n.) As Broke the translator was paymaster of Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
in 1549 (see below), it is at least possible that he was the lessee.
Another attempt was made against Broke in the spring of 1540. His servant was imprisoned by the council of Calais and strictly examined as to his master's conduct, and 'the second Monday after Easter' Broke was committed to the mayor's gaol, 'whither no man of his calling was ever committed unless sentence of death had first been pronounced upon him;' for otherwise he should have been imprisoned in a brother alderman's house. All his goods were seized, and his wife and children thrust into a mean part of his house by Sir Edward Kingston. Indignant at such treatment, Mistress Broke answered a threat of Kingston's with 'Well, sir, well, the king's slaughter-house had wrong when you were made a gentleman' (Foxe, v. 576). She wrote to complain to Cromwell and to other friends, and, finding that her letters were seized by the council, sent a secret messenger to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to carry the news of the sufferings of her husband and of those imprisoned with him. On receiving her message, Cromwell ordered that the prisoners should be sent over for trial, and on May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
they were led through the streets of Calais, Broke being in irons as the 'chief captain' of the rest. Broke was committed to the Fleet, and lay there for about two years. At the end of that time he and his twelve companions were released 'in very poor estate.'
In 1550 the name of Thomas Broke occurs among the chief sectaries of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Although from the character of his literary work it is impossible to suppose that Broke the translator could have been one of the 'Anabaptists and Pelagians' spoken of by Strype (Memorials, II. i. 369), yet if, as seems likely, he was dissatisfied with the new Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, he may have belonged to a separate congregation, and so have been described as sharing the opinions of the majority of the sectaries of the district.
Works
His works are:- 'Certeyn Meditacions and Things to be had in Remembraunce … by euery Christian before he receiue the Sacrament of the Body and Bloude of Christ, compiled by T. Broke,' 1548.
- 'Of the Life and Conuersacion of a Christen Man … wrytten in the Latin tonge by Maister John Caluyne. … Translated into English by Thomas Broke, Esquire, Paymaster of Douer,' 1549. In the prologue of this translation the identity of Broke with the alderman of Calais is made clear. 'I have (good reader),' he writes, 'translated a good part more of the institution of a Christen man, wrytten by this noble clerke which I cannot nowe put in printe, partly through mine owne busynes as well at Douer as at Calleis.'
- The preface to 'Geneua. The Forme of Common Praiers used in the Churches of Geneua … made by Master John Caluyne. … Certayne Graces be added in the ende to the prayse of God, to be sayde before or after meals,' 1550. An imperfect copy of this rare 12mo, printed by E. Whitchurch, is described in Herbert's 'Ames' (p. 547). To the beautiful copy in the Grenville Library in the British MuseumBritish MuseumThe British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
is appended a note in Grenville's handwriting, in which he calls attention to its perfect condition, and declares his belief that it is the only copy extant. In his preface Broke says that the graces are his, and that perhaps some will find them over-long; the first is a paraphrase of the Ten Commandments. He also makes another mention of his further translation from Calvin's 'Institution' which he had ready and was about to put forth. If this was ever printed, it appears to have left no sign of its existence. E. Whitchurch had printed the English Liturgy the year before, and this translation of the Genevan form seems to indicate a desire that changes should be made in it so as to bring it nearer to the practices of the Calvinistic congregations abroad. - 'A Reply to a Libell cast abroad in defence of D. Ed. Boner, by T. Brooke,' no date.