THE ELIZABETHAN FAIRIES

48 ORIGIN AND NATURE
In addition to the three theories usually held regarding
the origin of the fairies, there was a further theory -
that the names " elfes and goblins " as well as the beings
so designated, came from the Guelfes and Gibelins, after
the fashion described by E. K. in the June Glosse of The
Shepheardes Calender,
. . . the truth is, that there be no such thinges, nor yet the shadowes
of the things, . . . the sooth is, that when all Italy was distraicte
into the factions of the Guelfes and the Gibelins, being two famous
houses in Florence, the name began, through their great mischiefes
and many outrages, to be so odious, or rather dreadfull, in the
peoples eares, that if theyr children at any time were frowarde and
wanton, they would say to them that the Guelfe or the Gibeline
came. Which words nowe from them (as many thinge els) be
come into our usage, and, for Guelfes and Gibelines, we say elfes
and goblins.79
In the Cosmographic of Heylyn, the same origin is as-
signed the fairies," as is the case, also, in Etymologicon
Linguae Anglicanae of Stephen Skinner, I 67 I, where,
among other theories of the origin of the word, the fol-
lowing account is given :
Goblins, 2 Fr. G. Gobelins, Lemures, Spectra, Terriculamenta,
. . . Manduci: Elves and Goblins, q.d. Guelfs and Ghibelins,
quibus olim terribilissimis nominibus infantes territare solebant
nutrices. Sic Praeceptor meus, sed est mera conjectura.
In the matter of the exact identification of the fairies,
or of the particular category of spirits and supernatural
beings to which they belonged, there were a number of
beliefs and of opinions.
By translators of the classics and by men of literary
training and attainments, fairies and elves were believed
79 Page 31.
Lib. I, p. I 13.