Sir Robert Broke SL was an English judge, politician and legal writer. Although a landowner in rural Shropshire, he made his fortune through more than 20 years' service to the City of London. MP for the City in five parliaments, he served as Speaker of the House of Commons in 1554. He is celebrated as the author of one of the Books of authority. A prominent religious conservative, he founded a notable recusant dynasty. His surname is also rendered Brooke, and occasionally Brook, which are, for modern readers, better indicators of pronunciation.
Sir Robert Broke
Tomb of Robert Broke and of his wives, Anne Waring and Dorothy Gatacre, in the Gatacre chapel, All Saints Church, Claverley, Shropshire
Sir Martin Bowes, one of Broke's colleagues as MP for London.
Sir Rowland Hill replaced Bows as an MP for London.
Common Serjeant of London
The Common Serjeant of London is an ancient British legal office, first recorded in 1291, and is the second most senior permanent judge of the Central Criminal Court after the Recorder of London, acting as deputy to that office, and sitting as a judge in the trial of criminal offences.
Sir Henry F. Dickens, KC, Common Serjeant of London 1917 – 1932
Sir Robert Broke, Common Serjeant of London in 1536
Judge George Jeffreys, Common Serjeant of London in 1671
Sir John Silvester, Common Serjeant 1790-1803
