Christopher Brooke
Encyclopedia
Christopher Brooke was an English
lawyer, politician and poet. He was Member of Parliament
for York
in six parliaments (1604, 1614, 1620, 1624, 1625, 1626), and was also elected for Newport (Isle of Wight)
in 1624.
, who was twice lord mayor of that city. Anthony Wood
states that he was educated at one of the universities; Sidney Lee
thought it probable that, like his brother Samuel Brooke
, he was a member of Trinity College, Cambridge
. He subsequently studied law at Lincoln's Inn
, and shared a chamber there with John Donne
.
Shortly before Christmas 1601 he witnessed Donne's secret marriage with the daughter of Sir George More, lieutenant of the Tower of London
, performed by his brother, Samuel Brooke, and witnessed by the father of the bride, who opposed the match and contrived to commit Donne and his two friends to Fleet Prison
immediately afterward. Donne was released first, and he secured the freedom of the Brookes after several weeks' imprisonment. Christopher made his way at Lincoln's Inn
, becoming a bencher
and summer reader in 1614, and was a benefactor of the chapel. While at the Inns of Court
he became acquainted with many literary men, among whom were John Selden
, Ben Jonson
, Michael Drayton
, and John Davies of Hereford
. William Browne lived on terms of intimacy with him, and to Donne he left by will his portrait of Elizabeth, countess of Southampton.
He lived in a house of his own in Drury Lane
, London, and inherited from his father houses at York, and other property there and in Essex
. He was buried at St. Andrew's, Holborn, 7 February 1628.
Brooke also contributed verses to Michael Drayton's 'Legend of the Great Cromwell,' 1607; to Thomas Coriat's Odcombian Banquet, 1611; to Lichfield's 'First Set of Madrigals,' 1614 (two pieces, one to the Lady Cheyney and another to the author); and to Browne's 'Britannia's Pastorals,' 1625. He also wrote (20 December 1597) inscriptions for the tombs of Elizabeth, wife of Charles Croft, and of the wife of Thomas Crompton.
, Solicitor General of Ireland, she continued to be known as 'Lady Jacob' even after her marriage to Brooke. She was the daughter of the merchant William Lynch of Southampton (d. 1617) and first married David Targett of Southampton (d. 1602) by whom she had a son, William (d. 1627), later a soldier serving in Denmark.. She had at least five children by her marriage to Jacob, one of whom, Mary, survived her: and from her last marriage she had a son, John Brooke. Lady Jacob had the reputation of a female 'wit' and once caused comment by ridiculing Count Gondomar the Spanish ambassador. She predeceased Brooke in 1622, being spiritually supported in her last illness by his friend Dr. Donne.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
lawyer, politician and poet. He was Member of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
for York
City of York (UK Parliament constituency)
The City of York was a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in six parliaments (1604, 1614, 1620, 1624, 1625, 1626), and was also elected for Newport (Isle of Wight)
Newport (Isle of Wight) (UK Parliament constituency)
Newport was a parliamentary borough located in Newport , which was abolished in for the 1885 general election. It was occasionally referred to by the alternative name of Medina....
in 1624.
Life
He was the son of Robert Brooke, a rich merchant and alderman of YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, who was twice lord mayor of that city. Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood
Anthony Wood or Anthony à Wood was an English antiquary.-Early life:Anthony Wood was the fourth son of Thomas Wood , BCL of Oxford, where Anthony was born...
states that he was educated at one of the universities; Sidney Lee
Sidney Lee
Sir Sidney Lee was an English biographer and critic.He was born Solomon Lazarus Lee at 12 Keppel Street, Bloomsbury, London and educated at the City of London School and at Balliol College, Oxford, where he graduated in modern history in 1882. In the next year he became assistant-editor of the...
thought it probable that, like his brother Samuel Brooke
Samuel Brooke
Dr Samuel Brooke was a Gresham Professor of Divinity , a playwright, the chaplain of Trinity College, Cambridge and subsequently the Master of Trinity . He was known to be an Arminian and anti-Calvinist...
, he was a member of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. He subsequently studied law at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, and shared a chamber there with John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
.
Shortly before Christmas 1601 he witnessed Donne's secret marriage with the daughter of Sir George More, lieutenant of the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, performed by his brother, Samuel Brooke, and witnessed by the father of the bride, who opposed the match and contrived to commit Donne and his two friends to Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the Fleet River in London. The prison was built in 1197 and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846.- History :...
immediately afterward. Donne was released first, and he secured the freedom of the Brookes after several weeks' imprisonment. Christopher made his way at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, becoming a bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
and summer reader in 1614, and was a benefactor of the chapel. While at the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
he became acquainted with many literary men, among whom were John Selden
John Selden
John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law...
, Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson
Benjamin Jonson was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays, particularly Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair, which are considered his best, and his lyric poems...
, Michael Drayton
Michael Drayton
Michael Drayton was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era.-Early life:He was born at Hartshill, near Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. Almost nothing is known about his early life, beyond the fact that in 1580 he was in the service of Thomas Goodere of Collingham,...
, and John Davies of Hereford
John Davies of Hereford
John Davies of Hereford was a writing-master and an Anglo-Welsh poet. He is usually known as John Davies of Hereford in order to distinguish him from others of the same name....
. William Browne lived on terms of intimacy with him, and to Donne he left by will his portrait of Elizabeth, countess of Southampton.
He lived in a house of his own in Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
, London, and inherited from his father houses at York, and other property there and in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. He was buried at St. Andrew's, Holborn, 7 February 1628.
Works
William Browne had a high opinion of his friend Brooke's poetic capacity. He eulogises him in 'Britannia's Pastorals,' book ii. song 2. In the fifth eclogue of the 'Shepheard's Pipe,' 1615, which is inscribed to Brooke, Browne urges him to attempt more ambitious poetry than the pastorals which he had already completed. Brooke's works are:- An elegy on the death of Prince Henry, published with another elegy by William Browne in a volume entitled 'Two Elegies consecrated to the neverdying Memorie of the most worthily admyred, most hartily loved and generally bewailed prince, Henry, Prince of Wales,' London, 1613.
- An eclogue appended to William Browne's 'Shepheard's Pipe,' London, 1614.
- 'The Ghost of Richard the Third. Expressing himselfe in these three parts: 1, His Character; 2, His Legend; 3, His Tragedie,' London, 1614. The unique copy in the Bodleian Library was reprinted by John Payne CollierJohn Payne CollierJohn Payne Collier , English Shakespearian critic and forger, was born in London.-Reporter and solicitor:...
for the Shakespeare Society in 1844, and by Alexander Balloch GrosartAlexander Balloch GrosartAlexander Balloch Grosart was a Scottish clergyman and literary editor. He is chiefly remembered for reprinting much rare Elizabethan literature, a work which he undertook because of his interest in Puritan theology.-Life:...
in 1872. It is dedicated to Sir John Crompton and his wife Frances. Mr. Rodd, the bookseller, first attributed this work to Brooke at the beginning of the 19th century. The only direct clue lies in 'C. B.,' the signature of the dedication. George ChapmanGeorge ChapmanGeorge Chapman was an English dramatist, translator, and poet. He was a classical scholar, and his work shows the influence of Stoicism. Chapman has been identified as the Rival Poet of Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Minto, and as an anticipator of the Metaphysical Poets...
, William Browne, 'Fr. Dyune Int. Temp.,' George Wither, Robert DaborneRobert DaborneRobert Daborne was an English dramatist of the Jacobean era.Little is known for certain of his birth, background, or early life; he may have come from a family in Guildford, Surrey. He is now thought to have been a "sizar"—an undergraduate exempt from fees—at King's College, Cambridge...
, and Ben JonsonBen JonsonBenjamin Jonson was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays, particularly Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair, which are considered his best, and his lyric poems...
contribute commendatory verses. - 'Epithalamium—a nuptiall song applied to the ceremonies of marriage,' which appears at the close of 'England's Helicon,' 1614.
- 'A Funerall Poem consecrated to the Memorie of that ever honoured President of Soldyership, Sr Arthure Chichester . . . written by Christopher Brooke, gent.,' in 1624. This poem, to which Wither contributes commendatory verses, was printed for the first time by Grosart in 1872. The manuscript had been in the possession of Bindley, Heber, and Corser. Corser printed selections in his 'Collectanea,' and Haslewood described it in the 'British Bibliographer,' ii. 235.
Brooke also contributed verses to Michael Drayton's 'Legend of the Great Cromwell,' 1607; to Thomas Coriat's Odcombian Banquet, 1611; to Lichfield's 'First Set of Madrigals,' 1614 (two pieces, one to the Lady Cheyney and another to the author); and to Browne's 'Britannia's Pastorals,' 1625. He also wrote (20 December 1597) inscriptions for the tombs of Elizabeth, wife of Charles Croft, and of the wife of Thomas Crompton.
Family
Brooke married Mary Jacob on 18 December 1619 at the church of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields by Charing Cross. Formerly married to Sir Robert JacobeRobert Jacobe
Sir Robert Jacob or Jacobe was Solicitor General for Ireland between 1606 and 1618. He was a friend and close associate of Sir John Davies, the Attorney General who was the key figure in the Irish administration.- Family :...
, Solicitor General of Ireland, she continued to be known as 'Lady Jacob' even after her marriage to Brooke. She was the daughter of the merchant William Lynch of Southampton (d. 1617) and first married David Targett of Southampton (d. 1602) by whom she had a son, William (d. 1627), later a soldier serving in Denmark.. She had at least five children by her marriage to Jacob, one of whom, Mary, survived her: and from her last marriage she had a son, John Brooke. Lady Jacob had the reputation of a female 'wit' and once caused comment by ridiculing Count Gondomar the Spanish ambassador. She predeceased Brooke in 1622, being spiritually supported in her last illness by his friend Dr. Donne.