Shichirobe is believed to have been an older brother of Naomasa HORI, Toshimune HORI (or Michitoshi), Toshimune originally served Yoshiteru ASHIKAGA and after Yoshiteru's death, served Nobunaga ODA..
堀七郎兵衛は堀直政の兄堀利宗（或いは道利）と推定され、利宗は、最初足利義輝に仕え、義輝の死後、織田信長に仕えていた人物。