DOCUMENT WITH ORIGINAL SEAL SIGNED BY WILLIAM CLOPTON
THE XXI DAY OF JANUARY IN THE 41ST YEAR OF THE REIGN OF OUR SOVREIGN LADY ELIZABETH BY THE GRACE OF GOD OF ENGLAND FRANCE AND IRELAND QUEEN DEFENDER OF THE FAITH 1599 - from one of the noblest families in the land, he had a politically arranged marriage to his cousin Anne in 1586 (he was 12 and she 9) eventually inherited all estates, lived in Stratford upon Avon, where in 1597, he rented the house next to him, called new place to his good friend William Shakespeare, who subsequently purchased it in 1599. Records indicate this was the second biggest house in town, Clopton retaining the biggest. Must have had great dinner conversations when his friends came over. Shakespeare it is said based the character of Ophelia from Hamlet, after a Clopton personal incident also Juliet was similarly inspired by the very colorful Clopton family..