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"Robert Sysay" was a member of the Stationers' Company before the charter of 1557, and references to him occur between 1559 and 1562. In 1558—59, he presented "Thomas Sysay" to be apprenticed for seven years, and on 1 November 1561 Nicholas Smith for ten years. He was fined 6d. for nonattendance on 13 January 1561/2 (Duff, p. 155; Arber I, 98, 169, 184). In his will of 8 September 1563, "Roberte Sysaye in the parrishe of sainte botholf without Allgate London stacioner" requests burial "in the churche yeard of sainte Butholfes aforesaid or elles where" (Guildhall Library MS. 9051/3, fols. 34v-35). The parish registers of St. Botolph's, Aldgate, record the burial of "Roberte Scissor" on 24 October 1563 (Guildhall Library MS. 9222/1). His will provides for money for the poor-men's boxes of St. Botolph's, Aldgate, and of the township of Conisholme, Lincolnshire, where he was born. He identifies Thomas Sysaie, son of John Sysaie, as his apprentice, to whom he gives one year of his apprenticeship and, at the conclusion thereof, his marble riding coat; his best hat; his sword, dagger, and sword girdle; his saddle and bridle; the fur and lining that was in his nightgown; and his best cloak. To his brother Nycolas Sysaie of Ludney, Lincolnshire, he gives his best riding coat, his worst cloak, and plain black hose. He leaves to his brother Raffe Sysaie of Conisholme all his empty barrels remaining there; Raffe's wife is to receive one silver ring double gilt, worth 2s. 6d.

Sysaye mentions three children (Robert, Mary, and "Eamm"—apparently Emma), who are all unmarried and under twenty, and his wife Margaret, whom he names sole executrix. As supervisors of the will, he names James Gonneld, stationer (see Duff, pp. 57-58, and the section above on Gonneld), and Henry Woodcock, bowyer (Woodcock is to get either Sysaye's copy of Fabian's Chronicle or 3s. 4d.). He acknowledges certain debts to Gonneld, as well as to John Wadd, sadler, and provides for his apprentice, Thomas Sysaye,

to have the lease of the house in which he (Robert Sysaye) dwells, in the event of his wife and children's decease before her remarriage. Sysaye concludes by noting that he wrote the will with his own hand; it was witnessed by James Ryland, minister of St. Botolph's, Aldgate. Margaret Sysaye probated the will in the Archdeaconry Court of London on 12 November 1563.

Sysaye's apprentice, Thomas Sysaye, apparently died shortly thereafter, if he is the "Thomas Scissor" who was buried at St. Botolph's, Aldgate, on 17 November 1563 (Guildhall Library MS. 9222/1). A note in the parish register indicates that the plague began in July 1563 and subsided by January 1563/4, so that perhaps both Robert and Thomas Sysaye were numbered among its victims.