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By H. J. MOULE, M.A. 

 (Read at Abbotsbury Sept. I5th, 1886.) 



N the " Historia Longobardica, Aurea dicta 

 Legenda," many a legend begins with " De 

 nominis interpretatione," and most astounding 

 studies in etymology follow. Well, what here 

 at Abbotsbury de nominis interpretatione ? There 

 was no Abbey, therefore no Abbot, here till 1044 ; 

 so at first sight the name Abbotsbury would seem 

 to be as recent as that date. Yet the name may have arisen 

 earlier, for before that date Abbotsbury is said to have belonged 

 to Glastonbury Abbey. Its primaeval name, if it had a totally 

 different one, seems lost. I find nothing of it in Hutchins or 

 Coker. Is it possible, however (I don't say probable by any 

 means), that Abbotsbury is a corruption merely, not a total change, 

 of name ? Coker seems to have read the register of the 

 monastery. In it a church was affirmed to have been built " in 

 the verie Infancie of Christianitie amongst the Britains," by 

 Bertufus, a holy priest. To him St. Peter often appeared 

 granted him an autograph charter consecrated the church and 

 " professeth to have given it to name Abodesbyry." " We are not 

 obliged to believe legends," said a Roman Catholic priest to me 

 no very long time ago. But we must believe that they were 

 concocted, if not with verity, at least with verisimilitude. And it 



