Sibylle Boys

Sibylle Boys born Sibylle Illey aka Sibylle, Lady Boys (c. 1370 – after 1455) was an English literary patron.

Life

Boys' birth is estimated to be 1370 based on an estimate of her age eight years later. She was the daughter of Katherine Gymyngham and Sir Robert Illey of Plumstead Parva. Researchers are divided as to whether Jane went willingly with Langstrother to avoid a forced marriage to Southwell, or whether Southwell was the would-be rescuer of Jane taken by force by Langstrother. At the time Sibylle Boys set off for London to claim restitution from the King and his Lords.

It is said that Jack Cade's Rebellion's rebellion in 1450 may have added to Boys' poor health as this was the reason why she was unable to attempt a pilgrimage to Rome in 1451. She was concerned about her soul as she mortgaged her manor and the advowsons of the Holme Hale churches to get an obit to be said every year. She had been accused of forgery to deny her son's estate to his widow and she was also accused of not telling the truth.