ELIZABETH OF AUSTRIA: (1554-1592) Queen of France 1570-74 as the wife of King Charles IX. A member of the House of Habsburg, Elizabeth was the daughter of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, and Maria of Spain. A good L.S., Ysabel, two pages, folio, Vienna, 11th August 1590, in German. Elizabeth makes a gift of money to a poor woman, named as Cordula Garinin, who has submitted a petition to her and whose parents had been for many years in the service of the royal house of Austria. Also bearing an unidentified countersignature ('Grossonack'?) and with a good blind embossed papered seal affixed. Autographs of Elizabeth of Austria are rare in any form as a result of her death at the age of 37 from pleurisy. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, otherwise VG In early 1580, Elisabeth bought some lands near Stallburg and founded the Convent of Poor Clares Mary, Queen of Angels, also known as the Queen's Monastery. Elisabeth henceforth devoted her life to following the example of her convent's holy patron in the exercise of piety, relief of the poor, and health care. Even impoverished daughters of the nobility found her support.