The Brownists were followers of Robert Browne who was born at Tolethorpe Hall in Rutland, England in about 1550. Tolethope Hall, Rutland, England is at grid reference TF023104, near Stamford, Lincolnshire and is the former home of the Browne family, of whom Robert (c. ... Rutland is traditionally Englands smallest county and is bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire, and southeast by Northamptonshire. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Events February 7 - Julius III becomes Pope. ...

Origins

There had been early advocates of a congregational form of organization for the Church of England, in the time of Henry VIII. When, on the re-establishment of the Anglican Church, after Mary's reign, it became clear that the English government had other plans, they looked towards setting up a separate church. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 6 July 1553 (de jure) or 19 July 1553 (de facto) until her death. ...

Browne's leadership

By 1580 Browne had become a leader in this movement and attempted to set up a separate Congregational Church in Norwich, Norfolk, England. He was arrested but released on the advice of William Cecil, his kinsman. Browne and his companions were obliged to leave England and moved to Middelburg in the Netherlands in 1581. Events March 1 - Michel de Montaigne signs the preface to his most significant work, Essays. ... Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs. ... Norwich (pronounced variously Norritch or Norridge) is a city in East Anglia, in Eastern England, the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. ... For alternative meanings see: Norfolk (disambiguation) Norfolk (pronounced NOR-fk) is a low-lying county in East Anglia in the east of southern England. ... William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (13 September 1521–4 August 1598), was an English politician, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign. ... This is about the city in the Netherlands. ... Events January 16 - English Parliament outlaws Roman Catholicism April 4 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. July 26 - The Northern Netherlands proclaim their independence from Spain in the Oath of Abjuration. ...

Shakespeare

They are briefly mentioned in Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night (a play written with performance before Queen Elizabeth in mind), when Sir Andrew tells us "I would as lief be a Brownist as a politician". Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Twelfth Night, or What You Will is a comedy by William Shakespeare. ... Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... A politician is an individual involved in politics. ...

References

• Thorne, J. O. Chamber's Biographical Dictionary (1969)
• Stamford Shakespeare site. (http://www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk/history2.htm)