His father was principal aide to Sir William Clopton (died 1531), an influential lawyer at Lincoln's Inn and owner of Kentwell Hall at Long Melford in Suffolk.

Probably brought up in the Clopton household, at age 16 he was sent to study law at Lincoln's Inn, being called to the bar very young in 1544.

[4] In 1555 he was a founder member of the Russia Company and a supporter of the foundation of St John's College, Oxford, of which he was appointed first Visitor.

[3] He died at his official residence in Chancery Lane on 17 May 1581 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church at Long Melford, where his monument stands.

[4] None of their children survived and his estate passed to his sister Jane (died 1604), who had married Richard Alington.