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Kent History and Library Centre, TR/1295/49, 1613
[B2/1] Grant of post of iron founder for ordnance of Tower of London, to John Browne, son of Thomas Browne [marked 'copia vera'].
The National Archives, SP 14/105 f.146; Feb 11 1619.
Examination of John Browne, gun-founder, master of the furnace at Brenchley, co. Kent. Has 200 men at work, and more than half of the ordnance manufactured by him has been bought and exported by the Dutch, under licence; knows nothing of what is done at the four ordnance furnaces in Sussex.
The National Archive, SP 15/42, 1620
Statement to the Commissioners, Sir Rob. Mansell, and nine others, that two years ago, complaint being made of abuses in transporting iron ordnance, a commission was granted to Sir Rob. Mansell and nine others to inquire thereon. That they found one Brown had the sole making of it for the King; and as only two furnaces were to be allowed, the patentee [Sackville Crow] requested a patent to make it for the merchants, which the Commissioners recommended. Suggestions for drawing the patent, with objections and answers thereto.
Oxford University: Bodleian Library, Special Collections, MS.Eng.hist./c.478/fols.99-100, n.d. [c.1621]
A petition from Thomas and John Browne to the House of Commons against the King's grant of a monopoly for the casting and founding of all ordinance for the use and service of the King's subjects to Sackville Crowe. The Brownes were His Majesty's Founders of Iron and Shot. [Fragment.] Endorsed with notes on parcels of land, names of tenants and, possibly, acreages.
The National Archive, SP 15/42, Dec. ? 1621
John Browne to Sol. Gen. Heath.
"The matter between your kinsman and me stands thus; my father has for the last 30 years cast ordnance for the late Queen and the King, and for years maintained the trade alone. At request of the ordnance officers and East India company, I was put to the trade, that I might continue it if my father failed, which I have done, and produced lately two such pieces as I challenge others to do the like. If I may still cast for merchants, if the King want 200 pieces, I will cast them in 200 days.
Mr. Crow has got a patent for sole making of ordnance for merchants; this would confine me to the King's service, which only takes 10 days a year. You know how this patent was obtained, and that the commissioners advised there should be two furnaces for King and merchants, intending me to have one.
You know what Parliament ordered; the knights, &c. to whom it was referred certified in my behalf. If any one thinks he can perform the service without me, let him try. If I have to cease working, and then should be ordered any sudden service, it would take a long time, for I must cut and coal the wood, draw the mine, and work it into ordnance, if it be but for 20 pieces.
If Mr. Crow will join me friendly, there will be work for both. There will be a good quantity of shot needed yearly, but now the town is full."
East Sussex Record Office, SAS-CO/1/234 5 Nov 1625
Sale
John Porter of Lamberhurst Esq. & Richard Porter Gent. his Son & heir to John Browne of Brenchley Gent.; Sale of lands called Serenden, & furnace &c. in Horsemonden & Brenchley, 100 Acres purchased of John Brattle & others.
East Sussex Record Office, RYE/47/106/1, September 12 1626
Whitehall - The Earl of Marlborough to the Customers and officers of Chichester, Lewes, Mechinghaven, [Newhaven] Shoreham and Pevensey.
"Whereas there have been divers orders made at sundry times by their Majesties by the advice of the Council of State to prevent the unlawful transportation of iron ordnance and shot, and to that end did reduce the making of such iron ordnance and shot to be made and cast within the Counties of Kent and Sussex, by John Browne, his Majesty's founder, and Sacvile Crowe, another founder, who are bound to his Majesty for the whole making thereof and bringing of it to the market place at London. And whereas also by Letters Patent his Majesty hath authorized Mr. Phillipp Burlamack and Phillipp Jacobson to be his sole agents for the transportation of all iron ordnance and shot. Of all which you cannot be ignorant, yet you have suffered divers quantities of shot to be shipped out of your ports which have been made without warrant by men unauthorised and no account given what is become of the said shot. These are therefore to require you that from hence-forth you do not suffer any iron shot whatsoever to be shipped out of your ports but such shot as the aforesaid founders shall make and provide for his Majesty's service and the subjects as aforesaid."
The National Archives, SP 16/525 f.110;1626.
Offer of Sackville Crow for the composing of the difference between Mr. John Browne and himself in the matter of casting iron ordnance. If Mr. Browne will so be content I will join with him in all, stock his furnace, allow him a third of the profit, b allowing 10l.per cent, for the third of the stock employed. The pieces Browne has already made to be delivered in by him at Tower Hill at reasonable rates, and I to deliver in the like at the same prices.
The National Archives, SP 16/525 f.107, Dec 1626
Petition of Thomas and John Browne, the King's founder for iron ordnance and shot, to the Council. About two years past the King appointed commissioners to examine the complaints of unlawful transportation of iron ordnance, and to settle a course for prevention of the like in future. To effect this the Commissioners thought fit that but two furnaces should be allowed of which theirs should be one, as by a certificate will appear. Contrary to this order of the Commissioners a gentleman named Sackville Crow had since procured a patent for the sole supply of'the subject, thereby restricting petitioners to His Majesty's service. They have not had employment for one month in a year for these many years in casting iron ordnance for His Majesty's particular service, besides it is impossible for them or any one else to cast such pieces, viz., culverins and demi-culverins, without casting many smaller pieces first, which are fitted for the use of the subject; so if they should be restrained as intended by the new patent the service both of His Majesty and the subject will receive great prejudice. This will appear by the certificate of the Officers of the Ordnance and by the order of the Commons' House. Seeing that petitioners have never offended His Majesty nor the State by any unlawful transportation, and are now enforced to become suitors to the Parliament, for that their former petition exhibited to the King is now in the hands of Mr. Crow; pray that for the upholding of their furnace and mine which supplies the best ordnance in the Kingdom, they may cast ordnance as heretofore for the use of the subject as well as the king.
The National Archives, PC 2/34 f.196, 13 Dec 1626.
Whereas John Browne, his Majesty's founder of iron ordinance and shott, did this day by his humble peticion complaine to the Board, that upon commaund and order from their Lordshipps signified by Mr. Secretarie Coke to the officers of the Ordinance for the making and casting of 300 pieces of iron ordinance for his Majesty's important services with a proporcion of shott answerable thereunto, to bee forthwith brought into his Majesty's stores with promise of 1000li. imprest, and the residue of the moneys in such proporcion and so soone as the said ordinance and shott should bee delivered, and for the present furnishing of mony for these occasions a privy seale of ten thousand pounds passed, the peticioner (being incouraged therewith) had with all expedition made provision of coales and other materialls at excessive rates, wherein hee ingaged divers of his friends for securitye, and that the peticioner having made ready the said ordinance and shott hee made suite to the officers of the Ordinance to bring them into his Majesty's stores, and that they would take no more then there was occasion to use for his Majesty's service, and that the residue being unfitt for the marchants' service by reason of their length and bignes, the peticioner was forced to put of[f] some of them with very great losse, and that some of them doe yet remaine upon his hands, and that if some course were not taken for the present paiment for those that were delivered, the peticioner should bee utterly undone by this service, his friends standing deeply ingaged for him, and hee constrayned to ingage his lands for their security, and therefore humbly besought the Board to take some course for his reliefe, aswell for the taking of[f] his hands such ordinance as yet remaine, as chiefely for paiment of such moneys as appeare due unto him by certificate from the officers of the ordinance; their Lordshipps, taking the same into their consideracions and finding that the peticioner had deserved well through his care and readines in the said service, and that hee was a person fitt to bee cherished with all just favor, being so usefull in times of danger for the defence of the King and State, and understanding also that there is due to the peticioner about 2000li.,have thought fitt and ordered that the same bee paid out of the first moneys that shalbe paid in for the arreare of the Office of the Ordinance upon such debenturs as by the course of the office is accustomed, the paiment of which arreare due to the Office of the Ordinance is ordered amongst other things by an order of the 10th of this present made by his Majestie with advise of his Councell on that behalfe, of which arreare the debt due to the said Browne is parte.
The National Archives, SP 16/525 f.108, 1626
Offer submitted by Mr. John Browne, the maker of iron ordnance, to the Council. Upon the matter of difference between him and Mr. Sackville Crow, you were pleased to command on Thursday last that we should make several and respective propositions therein. I submit to you this offer. For me to undertake the making of 250 tons of ordnance and half the shot yearly for merchants, and Mr. Crow the residue of the ordnance with half the shot required by the merchants. Or the converse, or else an equal division both of ordnance and shot which the subject shall have occasion to use annually. To which purpose it would be desirable that a time and place of meeting between us should be fixed that once a year we may examine what the kingdom will require.
The National Archives, SP 16/525 f.112, 1626
Statement of John Browne to the Council in the matter pending between him and Mr. Crow relative to the manufacture of iron ordnance. Offers made by Crow and his objections to their acceptance. For if he should fail in performance of payments, and by that means impair and take away my credit, which now I have with the gents, in the country, then he undoeth me for ever, and I shall be rendered unable to serve either the King or country as hitherto I have done.
The National Archives, PC 2/36 f.31, 24 June 1627
[inter alia] Whereas the Boord hath ben informed that one Michell Donnevide, a Frenchman, now in the custodie of Anthony Blades, one of the messingers of His Majesty's Chamber, was lately apprehended in the county of Kent upon suspicion that he had or would attempt by sinister meanes to debauch and entice some of the workemen employed in his Majesty's workes in casting of iron ordinance under John Browne, of Brenchley. in the said county, his Majesty's gunfounder, and secretly convay them in the parts beyond the seas; forasmuch as this indirect course (if it should be permitted) would tourne to the great prejudice of his Majesty's service and the hurte of this realme, by earning that arte into forraine countries where it is not yett knowne, their Lordships therefore thought fitt and ordered, that the said Michell Donnevid shall presently be sent to his Majesty's Atturney Generall, and examined by him, and the said Mr. Atturney is hereby prayed and required to sett downe the said Frenchman's examinacion and confession in writing and retirme it to their Lordships, to the end that upon sight thereof the Boord may take such further course with the said Donnevide as shall be found expedient; whereof the said Mr. Atturney is likewise prayed and required to take knowledge and to proceed accordingly.
The National Archives, PC 2 , 31 July 1628
Whereas John Browne, his Majesties Gunfownder, complained to the Boarde that diverse of his Majesties workemen and others, vizt. Thomas Gunter, Robert Fryer, Richard Hook, William Shoobridge and his sonne, and John Jarret have bene practized with by Nathaniel Edwards to leave his Majesties service here, and to goe into Scotlande for the founding of Iron Ordinance and making of shot there; Forasmuch as the service of his Majestie in Englande may hereby be hindered, especially in these tymes. It is therefore ordered, that the sayde Thomas Gunter, Robert Fryer, Richard Hooke, William Shoobridge and his sonne, and John Jarret shall attende his Majesties service here and not in anie way engage themselves otherwyse. And the sayde John Browne is herewithall required to entertain and employ them in such sorte that they may have no just cause for want of employment here to seeke worke in anie other place. And it is farther ordered, that the Persons hereunder specified shall attende his Majesties service here in lyke maner as the other under the aforesaid John Browne and if it so chance that he doe not set them on worke they may freely seeke employment elswhere.
Founders and Fillers.
Drew Taylor and his sonne, John Tyler, Richard Tyler, John Barten, William Jarret, Stephen Bugoe, Charles Tayler and his sonne, Robert Lallam and his sonne, John Daniel, Charles Hooke, Thomas Jarret, Christopher Jarret, William Wimble, William Bassage, Richard Gower, Edward Tully and his twoe men, Richard Rolfe, William Shoobridge and twoe sonnes besides one before named, John Durant, Thomas Wickinge, William Wattes, John Tully, Thomas Shoebridge.
The National Archives, SP 16/204 f.12, Dec. 2 1631
Petition of John Browne, founder of iron ordnance, to Lord Treasurer Weston, and Francis Lord Cottington, Chancellor of the Exchequer. By their contract he is to transport 6,000 tons of iron ordnance and 900 tons of shot into the United Provinces. Finding the deadness of the market there, he prays to be permitted to transport four demy culverins of cast iron and 400 single demy culverins shot to the parts of Italy.
The National Archives, SP 16/264 f.155, July 22 1635
Whitehall.
Lords of the Admiralty to the King. Report upon his Majesty's reference, dated the 2nd March last, of a petition of John Browne, founder of brass and iron ordnance. It is a matter of great importance, that the manufacture of iron ordnance should be encouraged. For petitioner's proposition to have the sole making of iron pots, kettles, backs for chimneys, salt pans, pitchpans, iron weights, and such like, albeit the same carries the show of a monopoly, yet, considering that the Swedish ordnance has so beaten down the market beyond seas, that petitioner makes no ordnance for exportation and only a small quantity to supply the market in England, and unless there may be some other employment to keep petitioner and his servants at work, they will be compelled to seek employment beyond seas, and the trade of making iron ordnance, first invented in England, will be lost. The Lords conceive therefore that the prohibition of importation of the said commodities may be granted to petitioner, with proviso, that if at any time such grant be found inconvenient, the same shall be revocable. And for the other part of petitioner's proposition, the Lords conceive it requisite that he should have the sole making and selling of iron ordnance and shot according to the contract made with the late Lord Treasurer until he be satisfied the money he has already disbursed to his Majesty's use.
The National Archives, SP 16/535 f.190, July 1635
Order to the Attorney-General to prepare a bill for his Majesty's signature, granting [to John Brown, Master Gunner] the sole making, selling, and transporting of iron ordnance, shot, iron pots, backs for chimneys, &c., and further to prepare another bill containing a proclamation to inhibit the transportation of iron ordnance and shot by any other, and to restrain the importation of any foreign ordnance, shot, &c., or the making thereof in this kingdom, except by the above.
The National Archives, SP 16/363 f.110, [July 7 ?] 1637
Petition of inhabitants of Cranbrook, Kent, to the Council.
"This town and other parishes adjoining have for many hundred years past subsisted by the trade of clothing, whereby they have not only maintained themselves, but many thousands of poor people within this county and Sussex. Now, John Browne, by a commission for making brass or iron ordnance and shot, has seized upon the greatest part of such woods as were felled, and by petitioners bought, whereby the ancient trade of cloth-making is like to fall to decay. Pray the Lords to restrain Mr. Browne from seizing any woods which petitioners may buy for their necessary provision and trade, and that no furnace may be by him erected within the said parish, wood being at so great rate and of such necessity for their trade, there being many furnaces to be had for his Majesty's use in Sussex, not above 10 or 12 miles off, where cloth-making is not used and woods are more plentiful."
The National Archives, SP 16/378 f.145; Jan 10 1637–8.
Estimate of Officers of the Ordnance of the charge of making a new foundry at Brenchley, Kent, for John Browne to cast ordnance for the Soverign of the Seas; 1,000l.
The National Archives, SP 16/475 f.130; [undated] [1640?].
Memorial of John Browne, the King's gunfounder. Whereas the repairing of the foundry at Houndsditch is estimated to cost 150l., he will undertake to prepare his own foundry in Kent for the casting of 10 tons of brass ordnance, according to his first proposal, for 100l., whereby also much charge may be saved in removing of instruments, workmen, &c. Prays that the Lords would give such order as may warrant and discharge the Lieutenant of the Ordnance for the impresting of 211l. 16s. 8d. advanced to Browne on account for preparing the said furnace, providing 15 cwt. of tin for the mixture, carriage, fuel, &c.; that whilst he is employed on a service of this haste and consequence, he may not be necessitated to absent himself from the work, and that he may have a warrant from the Board to press workmen.
Kent History and Library Centre, TR/1295/51, 1640
[B2/2] Bond to John Browne, H. M. Founder of Ordnance, for purchase of 20 demi-culverins.
The National Archives, SP 16/506 f.154, March 20 1644/5
Bill of imprest for 1,000l. to be paid to John Browne, his Majesty's founder of brass and iron ordnance. He being employed by the office of the Ordnance to provide and bring into the stores within the said office, 60 pieces of iron ordnance, 117 tons of iron round shot, and 1,000 hand grenades towards the furnishing of next summer's fleet, for furtherance of which service it is thought fit by the officers signing that there should be imprested to him 1,000l., which Sir Walter Erle is desired to pay out of the money received for supplying the fleet with ordnance and gunners' stores.
Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre, Foley Archive, Loose papers, May 1638 to April 1643
Abstract of account between John Browne and Henry Cruttenden joint partners in Barden and Cowden
The National Archives, SP 16/507 f.174 June 14 1645.
June 14. Spelmonden.
Henry Quintyne to his master, John Browne, in Martin's lane, near the “Old Swan,” in Thames-street. Understanding of Mr. Hugh Lake's coming to London, I send this packet containing your several passes and Mr. Ferrers's account of Barden and Cowden pieces. I shall send you Brenchley's account rectified, and what I find concerning Sir John Nulls.
The National Archives, SP 16/507 f.189; June 24 1645.
The examination of John Browne, junr. He knows none of the Walsinghams. He lives at Horsemonden in Kent with his father. They have three furnaces for the casting of whole and demi-culverins, &c., and all kind of round shot. His father by letters every week gives directions what shall be cast. He keeps no accounts, but his father does of such as are for the Parliament. Names of the chief workmen. What is sent up for the market is delivered to Richard Pierson, dwelling in Philpot lane, but if for the Parliament they go through his hands and are sent into the Tower. Guns which are for the market or merchant are delivered to Mr. Samuel Ferrers at the Half Moon in Thames-street.
Kent History and Library Centre, TR/1295/52, 1649
[10 sundry] Account of sums due to John Browne, Gunfounder to late King Charles, for fees and annuities (£1,844).
Kent History and Library Centre, TR/1295/53. [B2/6] Observations on nine articles of a contract with [-] Browne, apparently to supply ordnance, c1650.
Kent History and Library Centre, TR/1295/54, c1650
[B2/4] Statement of money and valuation of stock at brass and iron foundries, Brenchley and Horsmonden (about £16,000).
Kent History and Library Centre, TR/1295/55, c1650
[B2/5] Estimate of weight of 24 brass guns (106 tons), with note of delivery from the Tower
The National Archives, PROB 11/212/935, 10 Jun 1650, proved 23 July 1650
Will of Symon Colman, of Sevenoaks, Kent, potfounder
[inter alia] 'I give and bequeath unto Symon Walker the sonne of Thomas Walker of Tunbridge Potfounder two shillings and six pence ... I give an bequeath unto John Browne Esq (my late master) twenty shillings of like lawfull money Item I give an bequeath unto the heirs of Sir Thomas Sackvile my late master late of Selscombe deceased twentie shillings of like lawfull money Item I give and bequeath unto Mr Peter Ffarnden (my late master) of Selscombe aforesaid twentie shillings of like lawfull money Item I give and bequeath unto the heirs of William Wood (my late master) late of Crowhurst deceased twentie shillings of like lawfull money Item I give and bequeath unto the heirs of Walter Lucas (my late master) late of Wilsfeild deceased ten shillings of like lawfull money All which said five last legacies soe given and bequeathed as aforesaid I doe give and bequeath unto them in respect they my said masters were lovelinge unto mee, and i did earne much money of them ... And I make and ordaine William Turner of Bidborrow Potfounder and William Jefferie of Seavenocke Clothworker and Thomas Deane of Brasted husbandman overseers of this my last will and testament'.
The National Archives, PROB 11/217/122, 15 May 1651, proved 11 Jun 1651
Will of John Browne of Bromley, Kent, Esq.
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