Elizabeth Hoby
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth, Lady Hoby (née Elizabeth Cooke; Elizabeth Hoby, later Lady Hoby, in her first marriage; Elizabeth, Lady Hoby as a widow and patroness; Lady Russell in her second marriage) was an English noblewoman. She was a highly placed influential member of Queen Elizabeth I's court and was known in her time for her refined poetry as well as her musical talent.
She is not to be confused with another Elizabeth Hoby of the Tudor period, the wife of her first husband Thomas Hoby
's half brother, Philip Hoby
. A portrait of this other Elizabeth by the artist Hans Holbein the Younger
dates from the period 1536–1540 and is now in the Royal Collection
.
, who was tutor to Edward VI. Cooke educated his four daughters to a high level for his day . Elizabeth's sister Anne Bacon
became a notable scholar. Elizabeth was proficient in Latin and French.
Elizabeth's first marriage was on 27 June 1558 , to Thomas Hoby
, of Bisham Abbey
, Berkshire, noted as the translator of Baldassare Castiglione
's The Book of the Courtier
. In March 1566 he was knighted and became the English ambassador to France. The couple moved to Paris. Thomas died there in July. Elizabeth received a touching letter of condolence from Queen Elizabeth I.
Elizabeth had four children by Thomas Hoby: Edward
(1560–1617), two girls who both died in childhood in 1571, and then another boy born after Thomas's death who was called Thomas Posthumus (1566–1640). She built a memorial chapel to her deceased husband in Bisham
parish church Berkshire.
She was married again in 1574, to John, Lord Russell (d. 1584), eldest son and heir to Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford
. She had two daughters by this second marriage, Anne and Elizabeth. A legend says she also had a son whom she so mistreated because of his slowness at lessons and blotting his copy-books that he died but this cannot be verified. The legend claims her repentant ghost haunts Bisham Abbey. John Russell's death in 1584, before that of his father, robbed her of the possibility of becoming the countess of Bedford.
Through her connections at court, her brother-in-law was William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and her nephew Robert Cecil
, she became involved in litigation and disputes as she sought favours for herself and friends. Her son Thomas Posthumus became Burghley's protégé.
She was for a time favoured by the queen and in the Summer of 1592, she entertained the monarch at Bisham Abbey for six days and the Privy Council
also met there. The queen was reputedly godmother to two of her children. By 1595 however she found she could only see the queen at church but by June 1600 she had regained favour when the queen attended her daughters wedding at Blackfriers.
Elizabeth was known for her patronage of musicians , most notably of the composer John Dowland
. She also translated A way of reconciliation touching the true nature and substance of the body and blood of Christ in the sacrament (printed in 1605) from the French and composed tomb inscriptions in Greek, Latin and English.
Later in life she became litigious and pursued grievances in law not always successfully.
She is not to be confused with another Elizabeth Hoby of the Tudor period, the wife of her first husband Thomas Hoby
Thomas Hoby
Sir Thomas Hoby was an English diplomat and translator. He was born in 1530, the second son of William Hoby of Leominster, Herefordshire, by his second wife, Katherine, daughter of John Forden. He matriculated at St. John's College, Cambridge in 1546...
's half brother, Philip Hoby
Philip Hoby
Sir Philip Hoby was a 16th century English Ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire and Flanders....
. A portrait of this other Elizabeth by the artist Hans Holbein the Younger
Hans Holbein the Younger
Hans Holbein the Younger was a German artist and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style. He is best known as one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. He also produced religious art, satire and Reformation propaganda, and made a significant contribution to the history...
dates from the period 1536–1540 and is now in the Royal Collection
Royal Collection
The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...
.
Life
She was born Elizabeth Cooke, the third daughter of Anthony CookeAnthony Cooke
Sir Anthony Cooke was an eminent English humanist, scholar and tutor to Edward VI, England's first ruler to be raised as a Protestant.-Background:...
, who was tutor to Edward VI. Cooke educated his four daughters to a high level for his day . Elizabeth's sister Anne Bacon
Anne Bacon
Anne Bacon was an English gentlewoman and scholar. She made a lasting contribution to English religious literature with her translation from Latin of John Jewel's Apologie of the Anglican Church...
became a notable scholar. Elizabeth was proficient in Latin and French.
Elizabeth's first marriage was on 27 June 1558 , to Thomas Hoby
Thomas Hoby
Sir Thomas Hoby was an English diplomat and translator. He was born in 1530, the second son of William Hoby of Leominster, Herefordshire, by his second wife, Katherine, daughter of John Forden. He matriculated at St. John's College, Cambridge in 1546...
, of Bisham Abbey
Bisham Abbey
Bisham Abbey is a Grade I listed manor house at Bisham in the English county of Berkshire. The name is taken from the now lost monastery which once stood alongside. Bisham Abbey was previously named Bisham Priory, and was the traditional resting place of many Earls of Salisbury...
, Berkshire, noted as the translator of Baldassare Castiglione
Baldassare Castiglione
Baldassare Castiglione, count of was an Italian courtier, diplomat, soldier and a prominent Renaissance author.-Biography:Castiglione was born into an illustrious Lombard family at Casatico, near Mantua, where his family had constructed an impressive palazzo...
's The Book of the Courtier
The Book of the Courtier
The Book of the Courtier is a courtesy book. It was written by Baldassare Castiglione over the course of many years, beginning in 1508, and published in 1528 by the Aldine Press just before his death...
. In March 1566 he was knighted and became the English ambassador to France. The couple moved to Paris. Thomas died there in July. Elizabeth received a touching letter of condolence from Queen Elizabeth I.
Elizabeth had four children by Thomas Hoby: Edward
Edward Hoby
Sir Edward Hoby was a diplomat, Member of Parliament, scholar, and soldier in England during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I...
(1560–1617), two girls who both died in childhood in 1571, and then another boy born after Thomas's death who was called Thomas Posthumus (1566–1640). She built a memorial chapel to her deceased husband in Bisham
Bisham
Bisham is a village and civil parish in the Windsor and Maidenhead district of Berkshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,149. The village is on the River Thames, north of which is Marlow in Buckinghamshire...
parish church Berkshire.
She was married again in 1574, to John, Lord Russell (d. 1584), eldest son and heir to Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford
Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford
Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, KG was an English nobleman, soldier and politician and godfather to Sir. Francis Drake.-Early life:...
. She had two daughters by this second marriage, Anne and Elizabeth. A legend says she also had a son whom she so mistreated because of his slowness at lessons and blotting his copy-books that he died but this cannot be verified. The legend claims her repentant ghost haunts Bisham Abbey. John Russell's death in 1584, before that of his father, robbed her of the possibility of becoming the countess of Bedford.
Through her connections at court, her brother-in-law was William Cecil, Lord Burghley, and her nephew Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil may refer to:*Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury , statesman, spymaster and minister to Elizabeth I of England and James I of England...
, she became involved in litigation and disputes as she sought favours for herself and friends. Her son Thomas Posthumus became Burghley's protégé.
She was for a time favoured by the queen and in the Summer of 1592, she entertained the monarch at Bisham Abbey for six days and the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
also met there. The queen was reputedly godmother to two of her children. By 1595 however she found she could only see the queen at church but by June 1600 she had regained favour when the queen attended her daughters wedding at Blackfriers.
Elizabeth was known for her patronage of musicians , most notably of the composer John Dowland
John Dowland
John Dowland was an English Renaissance composer, singer, and lutenist. He is best known today for his melancholy songs such as "Come, heavy sleep" , "Come again", "Flow my tears", "I saw my Lady weepe" and "In darkness let me dwell", but his instrumental music has undergone a major revival, and has...
. She also translated A way of reconciliation touching the true nature and substance of the body and blood of Christ in the sacrament (printed in 1605) from the French and composed tomb inscriptions in Greek, Latin and English.
Later in life she became litigious and pursued grievances in law not always successfully.