Elizabeth Kitson

Elizabeth, Lady K(i|y)tson born Lady Elizabeth Cornwallis (1546/7 – 2 August 1628) was an English music patron. She came from East Anglia and married the owner of Hengrave Hall in Suffolk. The Kitsons also had a London house. They gave permanent employment to musicians. Life Elizabeth Cornwallis was born in 1546 or 1547. Her parents were Thomas Cornwallis and Anne Jerningham. Her brothers were the diplomat Sir Charles Cornwallis and the politician Sir William Cornwallis and she had three sisters. Elizabeth received the training necessary to be the household manager of a rich family. She married Sir Thomas Kitson (1540–1603) who was the heir of Sir Thomas Kitson. He had just lost his first wife of only a year. Elizabeth had a dowry of £600 and she took on the management of the family seat of Hengrave Hall. Lady Elizabeth and her husband were keen on music and employed resident musicians Edward Johnson and twenty years his junior the madrigalist John Wilbye. In addition they created collections of instruments and sheet music. Wilbye would publish 64 pieces of music which are extant whilst she was his patron. She played the lute.