BROWN, Robert, a schismatic divine, the founder of the Brownists, a numerous sect of dissenters in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was the son of Mr Anthony Brown of Tolthorpe in Rutlandshire, whose father obtained, by a charter of Henry VIII., the singular privilege of wearing his cap in the king's presence. Robert was educated at Cambridge, in Corpus Christi, or, according to Collier, at Bennet College, and was afterwards a schoolmaster in Southwark. About the year 1580 he began to promulgate his principles of dissent from the Established church; and the following year he preached at Norwich, where he soon attracted a numerous congregation. His violent abuse of the Church of England, and his pretensions to divine in-
Brown. spiration, gained for him many followers among the ignorant and unwary. His sect daily increasing, Dr Freae bishop of Norwich, with other ecclesiastical commissioners, called him before them. Being insolent to the court, he was committed to the custody of the sheriff's officer, but was released at the intercession of his relative the lord treasurer Burghley. Brown now left the kingdom, and with permission of the States, settled at Middleburg in Zealand, where he formed a church after his own plan, and preached without molestation. In 1585 he returned to England; and at last fixed his residence at Northampton, where, for his indiscreet attempts to gain proselytes, he was cited by the Bishop of Peterborough, and, refusing to appear, was finally excommunicated for contempt. The solemnity of this censure, we are told, immediately effected his reformation. He moved for absolution, which he obtained, and from that time became a dutiful member of the Church of England. This happened about the year 1590; and, in a short time afterwards, Brown was preferred to a rectory in Northamptonshire, where he kept a curate to his duty, and where he might probably have died in peace; but having some dispute with the constable of his parish, he proceeded to blows, and was afterwards so insolent to the justice, that he was committed to Northampton jail, where he died in 1630, aged eighty. Brown boasted on his death-bed that he had been confined in thirty-two different prisons. He wrote a "Treatise of Reformation without tarrying for any;" and two other pieces; making together a thin quarto, published at Middleburg, 1582. See BROWNS.