According to information passed on to me by Ian Caldwell, in Dec 2001: "Sir Francis Fane (1579-1628), son of Sir Thomas Fane and Mary Elizabeth Neville, married Mary Mildmay (1583-1640). Francis, the eldest son of Sir Thomas Fane, was knighted at the coronation of James I on 15th July 1603, and was advanced to the titles of Baron Berghersh and Earl of Westmorland on 29th December 1624. He was created Lord le Despencer on his mother¹s death in 1626 but died on 23rd March 1628 aged 45 (sic).

His wife, Mary was the daughter of Sir Anthony Mildmay, (d.1617) the eldest son of Sir Walter Mildmay, (1520?-1589) Queen Elizabeth¹s Chancellor, and Mary Walsingham (the sister of Sir Francis Walsingham, Secretary of State). Sir Walter was the founder of Emanuel College, Cambridge and was one of the special commissioners in the trial of Mary Queen of Scots. Mary's father, Sir Anthony Mildmay, was the eldest son and inherited the family estate of Apethorpe. For a time he was Ambassador at Paris. Mary's mother, Grace, was the daughter and co-heiress of Sir Henry Sherrington of Laycock in Wiltshire. Mary was the only child of Sir Anthony and Grace, so was the heiress of Apethorpe Hall, Northamptonshire. She died on 9th April 1640".