Ambrose Lupo

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Ambrose, Ambrosius or Ambrosio Lupo was a court musician and composer to the English court from the time of Henry VIII to that of Elizabeth I and James I, and the first of a dynasty of such court musicians. He seems to have been born in Milan [1], though he and his family seem to have lived in Venice for a while just before being called to England. He and five other viol players, including Alexandro and Romano Lupo, were summoned to England by Henry in November 1540, to bring English music up to speed with music on the continent. Ambrose, also known as 'Lupus Italus' and de Almaliach, was the longest-serving of the group.

Living in the parish of St Alphege, Cripplegate [2], he was granted leases on lands valuing £20 in 1590 (in which document he was described as "one of the eldest of Her Majesty's musicians for the [sic] vials") and on Cissel Gorge in May 1590. Royal gifts to him included "a box of Lute strynges" and "a glas of swette water".[3]