Shakespeare faced a serious dilemma in his characterization of John, Lord Clifford. On the one hand, his primary sources Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed portray Clifford as a “child-killer” and near monster, a portrayal that had long before conferred upon Clifford the appellation of “Butcher” and, more kindly, “bloody Clifford.” On the other hand, Clifford had a direct descendant, and a rather spectacular one, living at the time Shakespeare began his career. John, Lord Clifford was the great-great-grandfather of George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland – darling of Elizabeth, friend of the Cecils, contemporary of Philip Sidney and the Earl of Essex, and favorite of the populace. The earl was not simply a courtier extraordinaire, but a well-known privateer and explorer, who succeeded in paralyzing Spanish fleets, plundering Portuguese wealth, opening up the possibilities of the West Indies, and promoting and financing some of the more popular foreign expeditions of his day. His exploits, both at court and at sea, were celebrated in song and verse. His influence at Elizabeth's court was substantial, only slightly less than that of the members of the Privy Council. Although he only lived two years into the reign of James I, his influence at that court was even greater. He was keenly aware of his heritage and sensitive about his reputation.