Sir Anthony Browne, Viscount Montague

as portrayed by Bill Griffith

I was born in 1527 at Battle Abbey, in Sussex County. The Abbey was given to my father, Syr Anthony Browne, by his Majesty Henry, 8th King of England to bear that name. My life has been dominated by two things, religion and politics. I have been a politician since a very early age, as was my father before me. I served in the house of commons starting at age 16. Shortly after, on my 18th birthday, I became the Royal Standard Bearer. I was granted livery of my fathers lands, which included Cowdray Castle, Battle Abbey and Guildford Park, which had been willed to my father by his half brother Syr William Fitzwilliam, Earl of Southampton. I was knighted at the coronation of King Edward VI. I served as Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in 1552 and 1553. After the marriage of King Felipe and Queen Mary, I was made King Felipe’s Master of the Horse; however, once King Felipe arrived in England, I was summarily dismissed from this position and replaced by one of his Spanish counterparts. I did to protest this most embarrassing humiliation to her Grace, Queen Mary, and to soothe my anger, I did to gain a modest severance pay from the Spanish Crown many years. Soon after, I was created the First Viscount Montague. In 1555 Queen Mary sent me, along with some others to reconcile the Church of England to the Papacy. In this same year I was rewarded by being raised to Knight of the Garter. Soon after my creation as Viscount Montague, I did to continue in my political life in the House of Lords. Shortly thereafter I was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council.

I was sent to Calais in 1557 to serve as under the Earl Of Pembroke as a lieutenant in the army preparing to defend Calais. Later I was named Joint Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and was placed in charge of the defense of the southeastern coast of England.

After the death of Queen Mary, Her Grace Queen Elizabeth did to send me to negotiate many treaties with other countries including Catholic Spain. Even with a Protestant monarch regaining control, I’ve continued to openly speak out against the continued restrictions against Catholics, often times being the only person in Parliament to openly speak out against anti-Catholic doctrine passing through Parliament.

My career has not been without setbacks. As I spake before, I was dismissed from my position as King Felipe’s master of horse. I was also imprisoned for a short time for hearing mass. I was implicated in the plot to Marry the Syr Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, to Queen Mary of the Scotts; however these accusations never did to hold water. After the Catholic rebellion in the north, my personal body servant fled England. Eyes were put towards me as being part of this plot to overthrow Her Grace. My unswerving loyalty to the crown has put me beyond reproach, and any whispers about my involvement were quickly dismissed.

At this time my list of offices and titles are as follows, Syr Anthony Brown, 1st Viscount Montague, Royal Standard Bearer, Knight of Garter, Lord Lieutenant and Governor of Sussex, Keeper of the Chase at Hampton Court, member of the House of Lords and Privy Counselor to her Grace Queen Elizabeth .

I outlived my first wife, Jane Radcliffe, who died after berthing my daughter Mary Brown, our second child, who is now Countess of Southhampton. After dear Jane’s death I remarried to Magdalen Dacre who has given me four children and is with child once again.

I now attend her grace during her progress. My role as a member of the privy council, and the political climate at this time, has dictated to me that I should travel with her Majesty while she is on progress. I will lend my sword to the safety of her Grace, and lend my knowledge to help guide her in making the correct decisions when that guidance is warranted.

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