Page:Elizabeth Elstob - An English-Saxon homily on the birth-day of St. Gregory.djvu/96



first Christian King of the Northumbrians, and after the Death of Redwald, whom he succeeded in the English Monarchy, the greatest King of all the Saxons. Ella being so great himself, and his Son after him so glorious, it is natural to imagine, that either the Father would desire to leave some Marks of his Conquests and planting there, or his Son do somewhat to perpetuate the Memory of his Father. Hence it is in all probability there are at this day some Towns that bear an affinity with the Name in those Parts, which come within the extent of those Kings Dominions; as Ellecroft, Ellington, Elton, Elfwic, Eflaby, probably for Ellasby, &c. And since the Holy Father thought it not inconsistent with the Gravity of so great a Prelate to play upon the word Ella, and to give us an opportunity of alluding to the same Name, I will beg leave to insert one Allusion more, which I heard some time ago made to it in the Name Elstob, or Ellestobb, as I find it written, an. 1345. This in all likelihood at first was written signifying some Palace of King Ella, or some Town built in memory of him. This, after the Conquest, coming to be written with this kind of, instead of the Saxon , might easily pass in process of time into the bbe, as Elstobbe for Elstoe: Nor is there any such difference of Sound, as need prejudice the Conjecture; for it is a thing well known among Grammarians, that Letters which affect the same Organ of Speech are easily changed one for another: But I make no more of it than a Conjecture and so carry on the Allusion to the Name; which kind of Etymological Allusions are thought to be of no small Use and Diversion, not only in the Saxon, but all the Northern Languages, to those who have a Genius not averse to such Speculations. This may be seen from the Works of several Learned Men, as of Camden, Grotius, and others, and more particularly in that most ample Treasury of Northern Learning and Antiquity by Dr. Hickes. ''Vide Dissert. Epist. p.'' 157. Thus we may observe some borrowing their Names from Towns, as Adam de Elnestobb, as it appears in an antient Writing, an. 1304. Thomas de Ellford, Richard de Allington, and the like: Others from Persons, from whom they claim their Descent, as from Ella, Elfing, Elson,