[1][2] She was an 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 was born at Gidea Hall, Essex, the third daughter of Anthony Cooke, who was tutor to Edward VI.

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 into English.

A legend says she also had a son whom she so mistreated because of his obstinance at his lessons and blotting his copy-books that he died as the result of her numerous beatings of him, but this cannot be verified.

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)[4] from the French and composed tomb inscriptions in Greek, Latin and English.

[6] By all accounts, Russell also behaved in a similarly fractious manner toward perceived 'rival' property owners in Bedfordshire, who were sometimes kidnapped, hung by their heels, or subjected to document forgery.

She seems to have been an ambitious woman, who was zealous in acquiring and protecting her own property, given that she was the first known female keeper of her own castle in England, at Donnington in Berkshire.