he led the van of the King's army sent into France, under the command of the Earl of Surrey, in which and other employments he merited so well, that he was made Viscount Fitz-Walter, and afterwards Earl of Sussex; (as you may see at p. 11.) He was one of the peers that presented the articles to the King, against Cardinal Wolsey, one of those nobles that represented in their declaration, sent to Pope Clement VII. that unless he complied and permitted the King to be divorced from Queen Catherine, his supremacy would not be long acknowledged in England. This Earl obtained a special patent to himself and his heirs, to exercise the office of Sewer, at dinner time, at the coronation of all the future Kings and Queens of this realm, with the fee of 20l. per annum for that service, payable out of the Exchequer, and was afterwards made Lord High Chamberlain of England for life. In 1541, he obtained a grant of the site of the abbey of Clive in Somersetshire, with the revenues belonging to it, and also of the college or chantry of Atleburgh in Norfolk, with all its revenues, and the year following he died at Chelsey, and was buried in St. Lawrence Poultney church in London, but was some years after removed and buried at Boreham, by his son and grandson. He was succeeded by
Henry Ratcliff Earl of Sussex, Viscount Fitz-Walter, Lord Egremond and Burnell, his son and heir by his first wife, who was made Knight of the Bath at the coronation of Queen Anne Bullen; and the first of Edward VI. had the command of 1600 demi-launces, in the expedition then made into Scotland, in which service being unhorsed, he narrowly escaped with his life; he was in so much favour at that time, that in the act for dissolving the chantries, colleges, free chapels, &c. which was passed this year, he had this clause inserted therein,
"Provided alwaies, and be it enacted by the Authoritie aforesaid, that this Act, ne anie thing therein contained, shall ertend to the College or Chanterie of Attilbourgh, in the Countie of Nor- folk, which the said late King Henrie the Eight, gave to Robert, late Erle of Susser, t to his Heires, but that Henrie, now Erle of Sus- ser, Sonne and Heire to the said late Erle, his Heirs and Assignes, shall and maie by Authoritie of this Act, have and injoy the said College and Chanterie, and all Manors, Lands, Tenements, Advow- sons, Tithes, Pensions, Portions, and other Heriditaments thereto belonging or appertaining, any thing in this Act to the Contrarie in anie wise notwithstanding."
Upon the death of Edward VI. he was the first that appeared on the behalf of Queen Mary, for which reason she immediately made him warden and chief justice of all the forests south of Trent; he was also Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter. By his testament, dated July 27, A° 1555, he bequeathed his body to be buried in the parish church of Atleburgh, appointing a tomb to be there erected over his grave; notwithstanding which, I believe he was not buried here, for dying at Sir Henry Sidney's house in Chanon-Row, Westminster, in 1556, he was buried by his father and mother, in the north isle of the church of St. Lawrence Poultney in London, and with them removed and buried by Thomas his son, at Boreham in Essex, the said Thomas desiring in his will, that it might be so.
