ELSTOB, WILLIAM, descended from an ancient family in the county of Durham, was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, January 1,1673. Hia father was Mr. Ralph Elstob, a merchant of that place. He received his earliest education in his native town, but was afterwards sent to Eton, and thence to Catherine Hall, Cambridge. Being of a consumptive habit, and the air of the place not agreeing with him, he removed to Queen's College, Oxford, whence in 1696 he was chosen fellow of University College. In 1701 he translated the Saxon Homily of Lupus into Latin, with not-a, for Dr. Hickes ; and about the same time he translated Sir John Choke's Latin version of Plutarch's treatise on 'Superstition,' which was printed at the end of Strype'a life of Cheke. In 1702 he was presented by the dean and chapter of Canterbury to the rectory of the united parishes of St. Swithin and St. Mary Bothaw, in London, where he continued till his death. In 1703 he published at Oxford an edition of Roger Ascham'a ' Letters; and in 1709, in the Saxon lauguage, with a Latin translation, the Homily on St. Gregory's day. He intended the publication of several other works in Saxon literature, more particularly the Saxon laws, and Alfred's paraphrastic version of Orosius. He died March 3, 1714-15. He published one or two other works, but of less consequence than his Saxon labours. ELIZABETH sister of the above, was born at Newcastle, September 29, 1683. During her brother's continuance at Oxford she resided chiefly in that city with him, and afterwards removed with him to London, where she joined him in his Saxon studies. The first
public proof she gave of this was in 1709, when, upon her brother printing the Homily upon St. Gregory's day, she accompanied it by an English translation and a preface. Her next publication was a translation of bladame Scudery'a essay on Glory.' By the encourage ment of Dr. Ilickea, she undertook a Saxon Homiliarium,' with an English translation, notes, and various readings, of which a few sheets only were printed at Oxford, in folio, when the work was abaudoned. Her of the Saxon homilies, in preparation for this work, is preserved is the Lansdowne Collection of Manuscripts in the British Museum. In 1715 she published a Saxon grammar in quarto, the types for which were cut at the expense of Lord Chief Justice l'arker, afterwards earl of Macclesfield. After her brother's death, Miss Elstob retired to Evesham iu Worcestershire, where she subsisted with diffi culty by keeping a small school under a feigned name. Each scholar paid her fourpence a week. She was subsequently patronised by Queen Caroline, who granted her a pension of 20/. a year, but this bounty died with the queen. In 1739 the Duchess Dowager of Portland took Miss Elstob into her family as governess to her children, where she continued till her death, May 30, 1756. She was buried on the 3rd of June at St. Margaret's, Westminster. (Pegge, Account of the Textus Ruffensis, and of Mr. Elstob and his Sister, in the Bibb. Top. Brit., No. xxv.; Kippis, Biog. Brit.; Tindal, History of Eceshatn ; Nichols, Literary Anecdotes ; Notes and Queries, vols. ix. and x.)