Thomas Bromley 1630-1691

Thomas BROMLEY 1630-91

Biographical Note

Son of Henry Bromley of Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire. Matriculated at Oriel College, Oxford 1650, moved to All Souls 1652, but left without a degree in 1654 to join John Pordage's religious community in Bradfield, Berkshire. He remained with Pordage after this was closed down, though he claimed to have lost £30 worth of books in the 1666 London fire; by 1670 he had returned to Upton upon Severn. His mystical treatise, The way to the sabbath of rest (1655) went through numerous later editions; he was in touch with Richard Baxter, Henry More, and other spiritual and philosophical writers.

Books

Bromley's library was auctioned in London, 26.8.1691. The sale catalogue contains 1066 lots, divided between Latin theology (230 lots; the folios include some English books), Latin miscellaneous (195), English divinity (329), and English miscellaneous (312).

Characteristic Markings

None of Bromley's books have been identified.

Sources

• Alston, R. C. Inventory of sale catalogues 1676-1800. St Philip, 2010.
• A catalogue of Mr. T. Bromley's library, [London, 1691], ESTC r230574.
• Hessayon, Ariel. "Bromley, Thomas (bap. 1630, d. 1691), mystical writer." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.