Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/432

 320 ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS. scarcely needful to observe that the title of Sir, — domums, was very commonly given to priests in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries : William Thomas, in his Rules of Italian Gram- mar, 1548, gives '' Ser, {Ifal.) sir, appertaineth to a knight or to a priest." Dominus was a title given in the universities to graduates, according to Hearne, in the Glossary to Robert of Gloucester ; originally attributed to bishops or ecclesiastics of superior sanctity or dignity, it became the designation of abbots, and at length the monks had the title of Dom, Doni- nus or Dan. In the wills, frequently cited before, the title of Sir is constantly given to the clergy; the Reformers desig- nated the Roman priests by the contemptuous name of Sir John, — Sir John Lack Latin, &c. Thus Tindal, — " then one sort are your Grace, your Ilolines, your Fatherhode : another, my Lord Bishop, my Lord Abbot, my Lord Pryor. Another, maister Doctour, Father Bachelar, Mayster Parson, maister Vicar, and at the last commeth in simple Syr John"." The following deed, found among the muniments of the dean and chapter of Exeter, and communicated by Dr. Oliver and Mr. P. Jones of that city, is worthy of notice as confirm- ing the better opinion of those topographical writers who have derived the name of Drewsteignton, in Devonshire, from that of a former owner of the property. The well-known cromlech at Shilstone in that parish has tempted a certain class of local historians to refer the name to a Druidical origin, and the theory is so po})ular and plausible, that the temptation has generally been too strong to be resisted. — "The very name instantly determines its original a])propriation to the Druids," says the industrious Polwhele : Chapj)le zealously adopts and enforces the sauie view, and even Mr. Rowe, our best and most judicious as well as latest guide to the scenery and natu- ral features of the Dartmoor district, seems to be almost per- suaded to fall in with the same etymological heresy. Whether Drewsteignton was really the chief-lieu of a Druidical archbishopric, it is needless to discuss. The deed at all events sup})lies a fact, namely, the early ownership of a Tciguton by one of the Drew family, and a probable and ade- (juatc cause of the distinguishing name of the place, Avhich, according to the rules of souiul logic, ought to be admitted until displaced by something better than conjecture. "■ Practise of Prelates, Tiiulal's Works, ter to his motlior, written 1553. Martyrs' p. Sl'.j, edit. 1572. See also Bradford's let- Letters, p. 292. orig. edit.