Career
She had the unusual distinction for a woman of the time of having her poetry published. The full works, published in two volumes in 1608, were entitled Parthenica (meaning Maidenly Writings). The subject matter varied between idyllic reveries, odes to Emperor Rudolf II (originally sent to him with the intention of convincing him to lend money), odes to herself, and anti-Semitic diatribes.
The father died when Elizabeth was six months old.
Her stepfather, Edward Kelley, was a well-known alchemist. Kelley, along with John Dee, was employed in the court of Rudolf II, which resulted in the family moving to Bohemia: to Třeboň (until 1588), Jílové (since 1591) and when Kelley was imprisoned to Most due to financial difficulties (see debtor"s prison).
After Kelley"s death, the family moved to Prague. Her command of languages was remarkable, being fluent in at least five: Czechoslovakian, English, German, Italian, and Latin.
Together, they had seven children, before she died in childbirth in 1612.
She is buried in Saint Thomas" Church in Malá Strana, the so-called Lesser Town of Prague. A collection of her poetry, edited and translated by Donald Cheney and Brenda M. Hosington, was published by the University of Toronto Press in 2000.