BROMLEY, SIR THOMAS (153o-1587), English judge born in Staffordshire in 1530, was educated at Oxford and called to the bar at the Middle Temple. Through family influence and the patronage of the lord keeper, Bacon, he made way in his pro fession, becoming recorder of London in 1566, and solicitor-gen eral (1569). He sat in parliament successively for Bridgnorth, Wigan and Guildford. In 1579 he was made lord chancellor. As an equity judge he showed profound knowledge; Shelley's case (q.v.) is a landmark in English law. He presided at the trial of Mary, queen of Scots (1586), but the strain proved too much for his strength, and he died on April 12, 1587, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
See Foss, Lives of the Judges (1848-64) ; J. Campbell, Lives of the Lord Chancellors.