Chapter LXXXVII: Part II: Gunpowder Plot Books——part I., No. 12

[Frequenters of Clopton (or Clapton), Stratford-on-Avon.]

Ther hath bine at Clapton[A] w^{th} M^{r} Ambrous Rucwod
Mr. Jhon Grant ther is with m^{es} Rucwood M^{es} Ceo (?) m^{es} munson
and others and to of his britherin
m^{r} Wintor
m^{r} Bosse
m^{r} Townesend
m^{r} Ceo (?) w^{th} on m^{r} Thomas a Cynesman of M^{r} Rucwoode
m^{r} Ryght
Allso mye pepeoll hath seene ther
Se^{r} Edward bushell
m^{r} Robeart Catesbee
with diuers others which I can not nam unto youer honer.

(Endorsed) Clopton.

[Footnote A: Clopton Hall, Stratford-on-Avon, was likewise styled Clapton Hall. Lady Carew, afterwards the Countess of Totnes, was (with her sister, Anne Clapton, the wife of Cuthbert Clapton, Esquire, of Sledwick, County Durham) the co-heiress of the Claptons (or Cloptons), of Warwickshire. Lady Carew was a Protestant, but her sister and brother-in-law were Catholics. A son of the Catholic Cloptons (or Claptons) was made the “heir” of the Countess of Totnes.——See Foley’s “_Records_,” vol. vi., pp. 326, 327.]