BROWNE, ROBERT (1550-1633), a leader among the early Separatist Puritans (hence sometimes called Brownists), was born at Tolethorpe, near Stamford, and educated at Corpus Christi college, Cambridge. He went to Norwich, where he gathered a numerous congregation, the members of which became associated in a religious "covenant," to the refusing of "all ungod lie communion with wicked persons." He seems also to have preached in various parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, especially at Bury St. Edmunds, and denounced the episcopal form of govern ment. Dr. Freake, bishop of Norwich, caused him to be im prisoned early in 1581, but he was released through the in fluence of his remote kinsman, the Lord Treasurer Burghley. After two more periods in prison he migrated, in 1582, with his whole company to Middelburg in Zealand, but his community broke up within two years owing to internal dissensions.
Browne issued at Middelburg in 1582 two important works, A Treatise of Reformation without Tarying for Anie, in which he asserts the inalienable right of the Church to effect reforms with out the authorization of the civil magistrate; and A Booke which sheweth the life and manners of all True Christians, in which he enunciates the theory of Congregational independency (see CON GREGATIONALISM). In Jan. 1584 (probably after writing A True and Short Declaration, the main source of our knowledge of his life hitherto) Browne and some of his company went to Edin burgh. He remained some months in Scotland and then returned to Stamford where he seems to have spent most of the next two years, his residence being broken by visits to London and prob ably to the Continent (early in 1585), and by at least one im prisonment (summer, 1585). On Oct. 7, 1585, he was induced to make a qualified submission to the established order; and after further submission he was appointed, Nov. 1586, to the master ship of Stamford grammar school. His A Reproo f e of certaine schismatical persons and their doctrine touching the hearing and preaching of the word of God (1587-88), which has recently been recovered, sheds a flood of light upon his later views.
In Sept. 1S91 Browne accepted episcopal ordination and the rectory of Achurch-cum-Thorpe Waterville, in Northamptonshire. There he ministered for 42 years, with one lengthy interval, 1617 26, which is only partly accounted for. When over 8o years old he had a dispute with the parish constable about a rate, blows were struck, and before a magistrate he behaved so stubbornly that he was sent to Northampton gaol, where he died. Browne first formulated the ideal which subsequently became known as Congregationalism (q.v.). He held that every congregation, how ever small, constituted by common faith and the resolve to live according to God's word, was a complete church in itself ; and that no secular government had any right to lay down rules for a State Church, or force conformity on them.
See H. M. Dexter, The Congregationalism of the Last Three Hun dred Years (188o) ; C. Burrage, The True Story of Robert Browne (1906) ; Congregational Historical Society's Transactions, passim (19(31—o6).