Bromley was probably elected for Worcestershire in 1614 as a result of the influence of his father and aunt. His father sat for the county twice, and his aunt Meriel was the widow of John Lyttleton†, who had sat three times for Worcestershire under Elizabeth. In 1614 Meriel’s son, Sir Thomas Littleton*, was still a minor and consequently his mother controlled the family’s political interest in Worcestershire.
Bromley is known to have spoken twice in the Addled Parliament. On 2 May he delivered what was described as ‘a long set speech’, in which he argued that the question of undertaking should be buried in oblivion.
Bromley’s extravagance exacerbated financial difficulties that were already evident in his father’s lifetime. He married an heiress whose lands were reputedly worth 1,000 marks a year, but these were quickly sold. After his father’s death Bromley suppressed a settlement Sir Henry had drawn up giving Bromley only a life interest in the estate.
In late 1627 Bromley thought he had found a way out of his financial difficulties when he arranged for his eldest son, Henry, to marry the daughter of Richard Newport*, in return for a dowry of £5,000. Although Bromley owed at least twice as much as this, he probably believed the dowry would allow him to compound with his creditors at easy rates.
Bromley’s hopes of clearing his debts foundered in 1630, when Newport refused to pay more than £2,000 of the dowry. Fearing that if Bromley used the money to pay off his debts in general no provision would be made for his son and daughter-in-law, Newport claimed the settlement specified that the dowry should only be used to clear debts encumbering the lands assigned for his daughter’s jointure.
Bromley was buried in Holt parish church on 10 Sept. 1641. As he had died intestate, the Consistory Court of Worcester granted letters of administration on 25 Sept. to his widow.