def find_first_entry(line, elements, start=0, not_found_value=-1):
    """
    Find the index of the earliest position inside the `line` of any of the strings in `elements`, starting from `start`.
    
    If none are found, return `not_found_value`.
    """
    first_entry=len(line)
    for e in elements:
        pos=line.find(e,start)
        if pos>0:
            first_entry=min(first_entry,pos)
    if first_entry==len(line):
        return not_found_value
    return first_entry