BROWNE, Robert II (by 1533-65 or later), of Launceston, Cornw.

Although his partner Robert Monson was a stranger to Launceston, the choice of Robert Browne as the junior Member for one of the two constituencies there complied with Mary’s wish that residents should be returned to the third Parliament of her reign. If his election was welcomed by the Queen, then she must have been disappointed in him when, despite the chancellor’s opening remarks, he left the Parliament early and without permission. For this offence he was informed against in the King’s bench during Easter term 1555: a writ of venire facias was directed to the sheriff of Cornwall, but no further process was taken against him. (That it was the Cornishman who was prosecuted and not his namesake of Colchester is clear from the position of his name together with those of other Cornish Members on the list of offenders.) The only other traces of Browne come during 1565-6 when as a townsman he was involved in two actions for debt brought before the mayor of Launceston.2KB27/1176; Launceston law ct. 8 Eliz., iv, 6, iiv.