Loe! the right waye to heaven; Love stoode by the(e),
_Seager!_ fayne to be drawne in cullers brighte," &c.

I should be glad to receive any information respecting this painter:
as also any hints as to the name of the poet Ch. M. May I add, also,
another Query? Is any authentic writing or signature of _Christopher
Marlow_ known to exist?

M.

* * * * *

_MS. Diary of the Convention Parliament of 1660_.--The editors of the
_Parliamentary History_ give some passages from a MS. Diary of the
Convention Parliament of the Restoration, and state that the Diary
was communicated to them by the Rev. Charles Lyttleton, Dean of Exeter
(vol. iv. p. 73.). I am anxious to know where this Diary now is, and
if it may be seen by--

CH.

* * * * *

_Etymology of Totnes_.--Can any of your readers suggest a probable
etymology for Totnes, the "prime town of Great Britain," as it is
called by Westcote[1], who supposes it to have been built by Brutus,
1108 years before the Christian era. Mr. Polwhele, who supposed the
numerous _Hams_ in Devon to have owed their names to the worship
of Jupiter _Hammon_, would, I imagine, have derived Totnes from the
Egyptian god Thoth or Taut; or, perhaps, directly from King Thothmes.
Westcote observes that some would have the name from,--

"The French word _tout-a-l'aise_, which is in English, all at
ease; as if Brutus at his arrival in such a pleasant soil ...
should here assure himself and his fellow-travellers of
ease, rest, and content; and the _l_, in this long time, is
changed into _n_, and so from _tout-a-lesse_ we now call it
_tout-a-nesse_, and briefly Totnessse. This would _I willingly
applaud, could I think or believe that Brutus spake so good
French_, or that the French tongue was then spoken at all.
Therefore, I shall with the more ease join in opinion with
those who would have it named _Dodonesse_, which signifieth
[in what language?] the rocky-town, or town on stones, which
is also agreeable with the opinion of Leland."

Totnes is denominated Totenais and Totheneis in _Domesday Book_; and
in other old records variously spelt, Toteneis, Totteneys, Toteneys,
Totton', Totten, Totenesse, Tottenesse, Tottonasse, Totonie, &c.
Never, Donodesse.

J.M.B.

Totnes, April 23. 1850.

[1] _A View of Devonshire in MDCXXX._, by Thomas Westcote,
Esq., Exeter, 1845.