BBBERSTON. 331 



the falling in of the rock; but several of the old 

 people of the village, remember when it would have 

 contained eight or ten persons. 



Ella's croft, near York, in the same manner, de- 

 rived its name from ^Ella, the Saxon prince who 

 was slain there * The following inscription, en- 

 graved upon a stone over the cave ; and afterwards 

 painted upon wo -d, when the stone was decayed ; 

 is remembered by some of the ancient inhabitants. 

 Alfred, king of Northumberland was wounded in 

 a bloody battle, near this place, and was removed 

 to little Driffield, where he lies buried. Hard by 

 his entrenchments may be seen. 



An enclosure at the west end of Ebberston, ad- 

 joining the Pickering road, now known by the name 

 of the bloody close, confirms the opinion that a bat* 

 tie was fought here ; but it is stated that Alfred 

 was wounded in a battle, within the lines of Scam- 

 ridge, (either Six Dykes, or Oswy's Dikes) near 

 this place. Sir Charles Hotham,t about the year 



* History of Scarborough. 



t Sir John Hotham, Knt. and Bart, was the son of 

 John Hotham of Scarborough, near Beverley, Esq. His 

 mother, Mrs. Jane Hotham, was cousin to the first lady 

 of Sir Charles Cholmley. His ancestors for many gene- 

 rations had been persons of distinction. Sir Galfred de 

 Hotham founded the priory of Hull, in 1331 ; and his 

 son, Sir Richard, was a benefactor to it. There was a 

 Sir John Hotham, high sheriff of Yorkshire, in I4b7 ; and 

 another Sir John Uotham held the same office in 1499 

 and 1500. John Hotham, Esq., was high sheriff in 1584, 

 and M. P for Scarborough in 1585, Sir John Hotham, 

 the first baronet in the family, obtained that honour in, 

 1622, and was high sheriff in 1634. In the beginning o 

 that year he purchased Fyling hall, with the demesnes, 

 from Sir Hugh Cholmley, his kinsman and particular 



