Matthias Mawson, Master 1724-44, Bishop of Llandaff (1739-40), then of Chichester (1740-54) and finally of Ely (1754-70), by his will dated 17 September 1770 'gave to the master and fellows of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, the sum of six thousand pounds in the New South-Sea Annuities, and three thousand pounds capital stock in the South Sea Stock for the purchase of an estate in freehold land; but to be continued in the said stock until it will amount to a sum sufficient to purchase a well conditioned estate of the value of £300 per annum, . . . to hold in trust for the founding and erecting of twelve additional scholarships . . . eight of which shall not be less that £20 per annum each, and the other four £30 each'.
In 1789 the opportunity arose to purchase the Holton Hall estate in Suffolk, offered for sale by the executors of Lady Mannock, widow of Sir Thomas Mannock. There was, however, a dispute about the title which led to a case in Chancery between the college and the executors, Lord Chancellor Thurlow finding the title not good and releasing the college from its engagements. The case was reviewed in 1793, and the title now declared to be good by a master in Chancery. The purchase price was £8000, with legal and other expenses amounting to an additional £600. (Masters/Lamb, pp. 233-4 and 256). For a detailed account see Thomas Lombe's bill at 31b (1).