CLARK, Ferdinand (d.1622), of St. Bride’s, London.

Clark was returned for Bere Alston just after his master’s death by Leicester’s friend Charles Blount, whose brother William, Lord Mountjoy, owned a half share of the borough. There is no trace of his taking part in any activity in the House of Commons, though his name occurs in the Lords journals in 1585 when he was imprisoned ‘after the hearing of the cause between the said Ferdinando and one John Lacy, citizen of London’, and Leicester claimed privilege on his behalf. In his will he described himself as ‘the unprofitable servant of God’ and made bequests to his cousin Hamon Clapton the elder, of Gray’s Inn, who had paid off a debt for him. He died v.p. in 1622.Vis. Som. (Harl. Soc. xl), 23; D’Ewes, 323; E. M. Tenison, Eliz. Eng. vi. 46, 211; R. C. Strong and J. A. Van Dorsten, Leicester’s Triumph, 113; PCC 71 Savile.