Robert Harrison (Brownist)

Robert Harrison (died 1585?) was an English lay schoolmaster who became a religious leader as a Protestant Separatist, one of the original Brownists.

Harrison matriculated as a pensioner of St John's College, Cambridge on 4 October 1564, moved to Corpus Christi College, and graduated B.A. 1567, M.A. 1572.

In July 1573 Harrison applied for the post of master of the grammar school of Aylsham, Norfolk. He was recommended to Bishop John Parkhurst by the mayor and some of the aldermen of Norwich, with reasons excusing Harrison for having raised an objection to the use of the service of the Book of Common Prayer at his marriage. Parkhurst made difficulties, including that the liturgical offence had been in the face of warnings; but finally gave way after an appeal from inhabitants of Aylsham. Within a month of his appointment Harrison requested that changes might be made in the baptismal service on the occasion of his being godfather to an infant, and he was removed by the bishop in January 1574.

Harrison returned to Cambridge with a view to taking orders in the Church of England orders. He was dissuaded by Robert Browne. Subsequently he became master of a hospital in Norwich (perhaps the hospital of St. Giles, or the Old Men's Hospital, which had some connection with Aylsham). Browne visited him at Norwich, and lodged and boarded with him and his wife. In his autobiographical A True and Short Declaration, Browne placed Harrison first in the list of his helpers and disciples. According to Browne's narrative, Harrison came completely over to his views, and the two spent all their energies in preaching and collecting a congregation at Norwich.

In April 1581 Bishop Edmund Freke of Norwich sent formal articles of complaint against Browne and Harrison to Lord Burghley, and the whole congregation decided to migrate to Middelburg in Zeeland in the autumn of that year. Harrison, according to his own account, suffered imprisonment before leaving England. At Middelburg the refugees enjoyed freedom of worship, and wrote tracts explaining their views, which were shipped over to England. Two men were hanged for distributing them, and a royal proclamation issued against them in June 1583. The cost of printing these "Brownist" tracts was apparently borne largely by Harrison.

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