1550), translator, was an alderman of Calais, the chief clerk of the exchequer and customer there at the time when the preaching of William Smith at Our Lady's Church in that town led many persons, and Broke among them, to adopt 'reformed' opinions.
[1] Broke was a member of parliament, sitting for Calais, and in July 1539 spoke strongly against the Six Articles Bill, though Cromwell sent to warn him to forbear doing so as he loved his life.
He was roughly answered by Sir William Kingston, comptroller of the king's household, who was reproved by the speaker for his attempt to interfere with the freedom of debate.
[1] The next month, at the trial of Ralph Hare, a soldier of Calais, for heresy, Broke intervened on the prisoner's behalf, and was rebuked by Richard Gwent, the Dean of Arches.
Half an hour later he found himself accused of the same crime on the information of the council of Calais, and on 10 August was committed to the Fleet Prison along with John Butler, a priest of the same town, who was also a 'sacramentary.'
She wrote to complain to Cromwell and to other friends, and, finding that her letters were seized by the council, sent a secret messenger to England to carry the news of the sufferings of her husband and of those imprisoned with him.