Inventory of the plate 19024 ounces.
And by this account it further appears, in relation to his Norfolk estates, that Sir Henry Woodhouse farmed his manors of Burnells and Thirning, that Sir Robert Jermyn farmed the rectory of Sturston, and that Peter Elwyn was his chief steward and bailiff, of the manors of Thirning, Sidistrond, Atleburgh, and Wood-Sales in Atleburgh, Thirning, and Hempnal. The tomb set up in Boreham church cost 292l. 12s. 8d.; after his death
Frances, his widow, had this manor for life; she was a very religious, liberal, and charitable lady; by her will, dated in 1588, she ordered her executors to purchase a perpetual annuity of 20l. and settle it on a learned and godly preacher, to read two divinity lectures every week in the collegiate church at Westminster, where she was buried, in St. Paul's chapel, April 15, 1589, as her inscription shews us; she it was that established the last college that was ever founded in the university of Cambridge, for she ordered her executors to bestow the sum of 5000l. over and besides all her goods unbequeathed, for the erecting of a new college in that university, to be called the Lady Frances-Sidney Sussex College, and purchasing lands to be annexed to it, to maintain a master, ten fellows, and twenty scholars, which foundation is now called Sidney College. It seems as if she had in her lifetime purchased the site of it, and fitted up some part, for in the account of the charge of the performance of her will, delivered in July 1589, is this, "Item, the college to be erected or en"larged at Cambridge, v. m. l." in which account it appears, that her funeral cost 1368l. her tomb 200l. her benevolence to the poor, to preachers, and prisoners, 100l. her perpetual lecture 200l. the surgeon for searing her corpse 20l. and her executors were chargeable with 10,996l. 14s. 9d. to perform all her legacies, of which they received in ready money by her, 3997l. by 4614 oz. of plate, 1220l. by 4868 oz. of white or ungilt plate, 1164l. by jewels 2652l. &c. At her death the manor went to
Henry Earl of Sussex, brother of Thomas Earl of Sussex, late husband of the said Frances, who was Knight of the Garter, and Captain or Governour of the town and isle of Portsmouth; he died in 1593, and was buried by the Lady Honora his wife, and his other ancestours at Boreham aforesaid, leaving
Robert, Earl of Sussex, his son and heir, who, in the 37th of Elizabeth, was sent into Scotland by the Queen, to stand in her stead as a godfather at the christening of Prince Henry; in the 39th of
