Definition of "els"

Now if ye felt your belly in ſuche caſe, that ye muſt be fayne al daye to tende it with warme clothes, oꝛ els ye were not able to abide the payne, would ye recken your belly ſicke oꝛ whole? I wene ye would recken your belly not in good quart.

c. 1522 (date written), Thomas More, “A Treatyce (Unfynyshed) vppon These Wordes of Holye Scrypture, Memorare Nouissima, & Ineternum non Peccabis, Remember the Last Thynges, and Thou shalt Neuer Synne. […]”, in Wyllyam Rastell [i.e., William Rastell], editor, The Workes of Sir Thomas More Knyght, […], London: […] Iohn Cawod, Iohn Waly, and Richarde Tottell, published April 1557, book I, page 80, column 1

We have a custome, that when one sneezes, every one els putts off his hatt, and bowes, and cries God bless ye Sir.

c. 1691, John Aubrey, Naturall Historie of Wiltshire