Seager a Painter.—­Marlow’s Autograph.—­In a MS., which has lately been placed in my hands, containing a copy of Henry Howard’s translation of the last instructions given by the Emperor Charles V. to his son Philip, transcribed by Paul Thompson about the end of the sixteenth century, are prefixed some poems in a different handwriting.  The first of these is an eclogue, entitled Amor Constans, in which the dialogue is carried on by “Dickye” and “Bonnybootes,” and begins thus:—­“For shame, man, wilt thou never leave this sorrowe?” At the end is the signature, “Infortunatus, Ch.M.”  Following this eclogue are sixteen sonnets, signed also “Ch.M.;” in two of which the author alludes to a portrait painter named Seager.  One of these sonnets commences thus:—­

  “Whilest thou in breathinge cullers, crimson white,
    Drewst these bright eyes, whose language sayth to me. 
    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.

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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.

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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.