ELYE. Elijah was a prophet in Israel during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah in the ninth century B.C. He prayed on Mount Carmel that God send rain to break the terrible drought (III Kings 18:42). Thus the Carmelites claim Elijah as their founder, De origine fundatoribus et regulus monachorum et monacharum (end of the fourteenth century). Elijah fasted on Mount Horeb before speaking with the Lord (III Kings 19:8), and he was swept up to heaven in a chariot of fire by a whirlwind (IV Kings 2:11).

Friar John mentions Elye's fast on Mount Horeb, SumT 1890-1893. Since the time of Elye and Elise, the friars have had a reputation for preaching and teaching, SumT 2116. Elye as celestial voyager appears in HF II.588. [Elise]

Elye, with final syllabic -e, is the ME variant of Latin Helias; Latin initial h was not pronounced; compare with Dante's Italian, Elia, Inf XXVI.35. The name occurs twice medially, SumT 1890, 2116, and once in final rhyming position, HF II.588.