Alfonso Ferrabosco

Alfonso Ferrabosco (Alfonso Ferrabosco (I); his son, Alfonso Ferrabosco the younger was also a composer) (baptised 18th January 1543 – 12th August 1588) was an Italian composer. While mostly famous as the solitary Italian madrigalist working in England, and the one mainly responsible for the growth of the madrigal there, he also composed much sacred music. He also may have been a spy for Elizabeth I while he was in Italy. Little is known about his early life