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Willam Orthrup, Early Life
Willam Orthrup (January 7, 1543 - April 12, 1630) grew up protestant in the early Elizabethan era. His extended family was killed off by Mary I of England. At five years old he watched his uncle burned to the stake by the deranged and over-passionate queen. Two years later, in 1550, Willam was greeted with more unfortunate news. His father, who had been a distant relative of King Philip, had been invited to a dinner party where he was poisoned. (Cardinal Wosely's son attended the same party and wrote about this unfortunate death.) At 15 years old, Orthrup heard the news that "Bloody Mary" was dead. He became a proud supporter of the young Queen Elizabeth, and also grew fond of William Shakespeare.

Mystery and Mystique surrounding the Orthrup Family
Overall, not much is known about Willam Orthrup, as he is one of the overlooked figures in history. He is a figure surrounded in myth and mystique by many, and historians still struggle to find the truth of what happened in his life. Three months after his father died, his mother mysteriously disappeared. It was rumored for years that the wealthy woman was no longer pleased by her son, ans=d so she took the family's life savings and went about the streets gambling. Another theory is that Ann Orthrup had run off with the famed William Shakespeare, but this theory was eventually discarded. It is thought that the Orthrups had been gamblers, or sold things illegally, because their story about being relatives of King Philip has come to nothing. It is figured that James Orthrup wheedled his way into attending that dinner party merely because someone owed him a favor, or had not payed the right amount for smuggled goods. In general, the Orthrups were regarded with respect, but historians can't help but wonder about this family.