David Broke
Encyclopedia
David Brook (also Brooke or Broke) was an English judge and Member of Parliament.
family living at Glastonbury
, Somerset
. His father, John Brook, was also a lawyer and serjeant-at-law
; he died in 1525, and was buried in the church of St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
, having been principal seneschal of the neighbouring monastery. David was appointed reader at the Inner Temple
in the autumn of 1534, and again in Lent term 1540, when he was also treasurer, and in 1541 he became governor. He was recorder of Bristol (1541–9) and M.P. for the city
(1542–4).
On 3 February 1547, the first week of Edward VI's reign, he received the coif, the degree of serjeant-at-law having been bestowed on him as one of the last acts of Henry VIII. On 25 November 1551 he was appointed king's serjeant, and when, two years later (1 September 1553), Sir Henry Bradshaw was removed, he succeeded him as lord chief baron of the exchequer
. On 2 October, the day after Queen Mary
's coronation, Brook and others, according to Henry Machyn
, were dubbed knights of the carpet.
Notices of his judgments continue to occur in James Dyer
's reports until Hilary term 1557–8. In March he was succeeded by Sir Clement Heigham. He is said to have been fond of the maxim, ‘Never do anything by another that you can do by yourself.’
, and was buried in the chancel of the church of St. Lawrence Jewry, London. By neither wife had he any issue.
Life
He was of a West countryWest Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
family living at Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. His father, John Brook, was also a lawyer and serjeant-at-law
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
; he died in 1525, and was buried in the church of St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, having been principal seneschal of the neighbouring monastery. David was appointed reader at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in the autumn of 1534, and again in Lent term 1540, when he was also treasurer, and in 1541 he became governor. He was recorder of Bristol (1541–9) and M.P. for the city
Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)
Bristol was a two member constituency, used to elect members to the House of Commons in the Parliaments of England , Great Britain and the United Kingdom . The constituency existed until Bristol was divided into single member constituencies in 1885.-Boundaries:The historic port city of Bristol, is...
(1542–4).
On 3 February 1547, the first week of Edward VI's reign, he received the coif, the degree of serjeant-at-law having been bestowed on him as one of the last acts of Henry VIII. On 25 November 1551 he was appointed king's serjeant, and when, two years later (1 September 1553), Sir Henry Bradshaw was removed, he succeeded him as lord chief baron of the exchequer
Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
The Chief Baron of the Exchequer was the first "baron" of the English Exchequer of pleas. "In the absence of both the Treasurer of the Exchequer or First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was he who presided in the equity court and answered the bar i.e...
. On 2 October, the day after Queen Mary
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
's coronation, Brook and others, according to Henry Machyn
Henry Machyn
Henry Machyn was an English clothier and diarist in 16th century London.Machyn's Chronicle, which was written between 1550 and 1563, is primarily concerned with public events: changes on the throne, state visits, insurrections, executions and festivities...
, were dubbed knights of the carpet.
Notices of his judgments continue to occur in James Dyer
James Dyer
Sir James Dyer was a judge and Speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Edward VI of England.Dyer was knighted at Whitehall on 9 April 1553, Strand Inn, preparatory 1520s, Middle Temple abt. 1530, called to the bar 1537?, bencher 1540s, serjeant-at-law 17 Oct...
's reports until Hilary term 1557–8. In March he was succeeded by Sir Clement Heigham. He is said to have been fond of the maxim, ‘Never do anything by another that you can do by yourself.’
Family
He was twice married: first to Katherine, daughter of John, Lord Chandos; secondly, to Margaret, daughter of Richard Butler of London, who had already survived two husbands, Andrew Fraunces and Alderman Robert Chertsey, and, surviving Brook, married Edward North, 1st Baron NorthEdward North, 1st Baron North
Edward North, 1st Baron North was an English peer and politician. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire 1559–1564 and Clerk of the Parliaments...
, and was buried in the chancel of the church of St. Lawrence Jewry, London. By neither wife had he any issue.