There are many Cecil pedigrees in existence, all dating from a period contemporary with the lifetime of the great Lord Burghley, who was somewhat of genealogist himself. These all attribute to the Cecil family a descent from Siltset, or Sitsell, who died in 1091 received lands in Wales from Robert Fitz Hamon, the pedigree being traced through the family of Siltsilt of Altyrennes, Co. Hereford. Those pedigrees have never been disproved. The siltsylts of Altyrennes undoubtedly claimed the Cecils of Stamford as close kinsman, many letters now remaining at Hatfield clearly showing that upon the strength of the relationship claims were constantly being put forward for preferment and other assistance. The Altyrennes estate was settled by the siltsylts upon the Burghley family, a transaction of which were subsequently glad to relieve themselves. At the same time, the descent is not now capable of proof, and when a family suddenly rises to high position from comparatively humbler beginning, and subsequently puts forward an elaborate pedigree, the tendency is alwasy to disbelieve. The descent was doubted in Burghley's lifetime, for his enemies twitted him that his grandfather "kept the best inn in Stamford," and the first Lord Exeter himself seems to have been by no means certain on the point. David Syssell (for so his grandson says he wrote his name) or Cyssell (as he signed his will), of Stamford, a burgess of that town and Senior Alderman of Mayor in 1503, 1515, and 1523, Escheator of the county of Lincoln, and High Sheriff 23 and 24 Henry VIII, and a small landowner. He died at Stamford in 1541 of 14 September 1535, being then over eightly years old, so born before 1455. He married Alice, the daughter of John Dickons, of Stamford, sometimes said to be Sir John Dickons, Kt. He was the younger son of a prosperous yeoman and had some education, probably from a neighboring parson. He was trained for use of long bow. David was recruited in 1485 and fought valiantly at Bosworth. He was a yeoman of Henry VII's famous guard. Named as alderman of Stamford three times. He became a steward of a number of royal manors, justice of the peace for Rutland, sheriff of Nottingham, Yeoman of the guard for Henry VII, Yeoman of the Chamber for Henry VIII, and Sergeant-at-Arms. Married a second time to a rich widow of Lancashire. Jane Roos?
