Various - Notes and Queries, Number 29, May 18, 1850

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—

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 1 A View of Devonshire in MDCXXX. , by Thomas Westcote, Esq., Exeter, 1845. , 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-à-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-à-lesse we now call it tout-à-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

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A View of Devonshire in MDCXXX. , by Thomas Westcote, Esq., Exeter, 1845.