Chapter Elfenreigen to Elmo of E by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Elizabeth (The queen), haughty, imperious, but devoted to her people. She loved the earl of Essex, and, when she heard that he was married to the countess of Rutland, exclaimed that she never “knew sorrow before.” The queen gave Essex a ring after his rebellion, saying, “Here, from my finger take this ring, a pledge of mercy; and whensoe’er you send it back, I swear that I will grant whatever boon you ask.” After his condemnation, Essex sent the ring to the queen by the countess of Nottingham, craving that her most gracious majesty would spare the life of lord Southampton; but the countess, from jealousy, did not give it to the queen. However, the queen sent a reprieve for Essex, but Burleigh took care that it came too late, and the earl was beheaded as a traitor.—H. Jones: The Earl of Essex (1745).

Elizabeth (Queen), introduced by sir W. Scott in his novel called Kenilworth.

Elizabeth of Hungary (St.), patron saint of queens, being herself a queen. Her day is July 9 (1207–1231).

(C. Kingsley wrote a dramatic poem on Elizabeth of Hungary, called The Saint’s Tragedy (1846).)

Ella, in Chaucer’s Man of Law’s Tale, was a king of Northumberland, who married Cunstance or Custance (q.v., p. 252).—Canterbury Tales (1383).

Ellen (Burd), a ballad which tells how Burd Ellen followed her lord as his page, and gave birth to a son in a stable.—Percy: Reliques (“Childe Waters,” series iii.).

(The ballad is called Lady Margaret by Kinloch, and Burd Ellen by Jamieson.)

Ellesmere (Mistress), the head domestic of lady Peveril.—Sir W. Scott: Peveril of the Peak (time, Charles II.).

Elliot (Hobbie, i.e. Halbert), farmer at the Heugh-foot. His bride-elect is Grace Armstrong.

Mrs. Elliot, Hobbie’s grandmother.

John and Harry, Hobbie’s brothers.

Lilias, Jean, and Arnot, Hobbie’s sisters.—Sir W. Scott: The Black Dwarf (time, Anne).

Elmo (St.). The fire of St. Elmo (Feu de Saint Elme), a corposant. If only one appears on a ship-mast, foul weather is at hand; but if two or more, they indicate that stormy weather is about to cease. By the Italians those corposants are called the “fires of St. Peter and St. Nicholas.” In Latin the single fire is called “Helen,” but the two “Castor and Pollux.” Horace says (1 Odes, xii. 27)—

Quorum simul alba nautis stella refulsit,
Defluit saxis agitatus humor,
Concidunt venti, fugiuntque nubes, etc.

But Longfellow makes the stella indicative of foul weather—

Last night I saw St. Elmo’s stars,
With their glimmering lanterns all at play…
And I knew we should have foul weather to-day.
   —Longfellow: The Golden Legend.

N.B.—St. Adelelm, also called St. Elesmo or Elmo, bishop of Burgos (1100, etc.), started one dark and stormy night on a visit to Ranes bishop of Auvergne. In order to see his way, he lighted a candle, which he gave to a companion to carry, and bade him go first. The candle was not enclosed in a lantern, nor was it in any wise protected from the storm, but it burnt brightly and steadily. From this “miracle” corposants were called “St. Elmo lights.”—Bollandistes: Vita Sanctorum (January 30).