Cylchgronau Cymru

June 27, 1888. BYE-GONES. 133 however, that cop was sometimes employed as a specific term for a hill-top. Thei ledden him to the coppe of the hil (Wiclif—Luke, c. 4). In a similar sense Chaucer uses the word by itself, and we still retain this meaning of it in Wyle Cop, the rough wild summit about which grew up Scrobbesbyrig, the town of shrubs, now softened to Shrewsbury. The conclusion, then, at which we naturally arrive is that Gobowen signifies Owen's hill-top, whoever Owen was, and wherever the hill-top may be. Coptiviney is by no means so easy a place-name for etymologists to tackle. The termination viney appears, at first sight, to be a cor¬ ruption of the Latin termination vinium. And such a name as Bravinium, which is known to have been a Roman station in Shropshire, suggests the possibility of such a name as Coptivinium—I do not say the proba¬ bility. The termination viney, again, may perhaps be referred to the Latin vinurn, wine, but this explanation of it, like the one before, overlooks the peculiar force of the old spelling, Copty-venney. If venney be more correct than viney, as I believe it to be, and if it has any reference whatever to grape culture, I should con¬ nect it with vinnal or winnal. The name Winnal, in Hampshire, is usually derived from the Celtic gwinllan, a vineyard. I now pass to my own theory, whish I own may seem far fetched. A word rather like winnal is vennel. The ascent to the castle at Edinburgh is still called the vennel, and the ascent to the castle at Rochester, now Castle-street, once bore the same name. Viewed in this light, I interpret Coptiviney, that is, Cop- ty-vennel or Cop-y-vennel, to mean the top ground of the slope or rise on which stood a fortification of one kind or another. In Stapleton parish, about six miles from Shrewsbury, I see there is a place called Vennels, and, in some maps, Vinnals. Close by are Upper and Lower Moat. Close to Coptiviney is Trench. We trace in these names the records of fortified positions. One word more, I dare say it will be contended that to derive viney, or venney, from vennel, smacks of audacity. In Shropshire, however, if not elsewhere, the final " 1" in place-names is constantly dropped in pro¬ nunciation. Thus Lineal, near Ellesmere, is pro¬ nounced Linya, and Whettall or Whetal, in the same neighbourhood, is pronounced Wheta or Whet-ar, the unnecessary " r " being too often considered necessary. So much for my theory, upon which, be it understood, I do not insist. I only insist upon the advantages to be derived from my method. Comparative etymology is as capable as comparative anatomy of producing good results. Odo. CURRENT NOTES. The fund raised for the benefit of the family of Mr Dan Isaac Da vies, the founder of the " Welsh Language Society," has reached £303. A Cheshire paper states that Lord Tollemache has sold two pictures by Sir Joshua Reynolds at £15,000 each, and one by Gainsborough for £14,000. A new pier which directly connects the Graiglwyd Stone Quarries with the sea, and a new path round the slopes of Moel Llys, were opened at Penmaenmawr on Saturday. The Athenaeum says :—" Miss Mary Boyle is engaged on a biographical catalogue of Lord Bradford's pictures at Weston Park. The volume is being printed for private circulation by Mr Elliot Stock." A few days ago while blasting the rock in sinking a well at the steam laundry, Victoria-road, Chester, the men at work came upon a live toad at a depth of 25 yards 2 feet from the surface. The well is sunk in rock. The workmen at Penmon Quarry have dug into a "bar¬ row or prehistoric grave." It measures three feet long from north to south. Broken bones were discovered under the tumulus and on the solid rock, which had been ap- parently scooped out to form a "cist." The death is announced of Mr Owen Owen, solicitor, of Pwllheli, for many years clerk to the justices, and Board of Guardians. He was also registrar of Pwllheli County Court, and superintendent registrar of births, deaths, and marriages. Mr Owen was about 70 years of age. The Rev. Canon Trevor died last week in his eightieth year. As long ago as 1847 he sat as Proctor for the Chapter of York. He was the author of a number of theological and historical works, and was equally well known as a writer, preacher, and public speaker. The Archdeacon of Merioneth, the Rev. Canon John Evans, has, upon the nomination of Lord Penrhyn, been preferred to the rectory of Aber, vacant by the death of the Rev. William Morgan. The value of the rectory of Llanllechid, which is vacated by the preferment and is in the gift of the Bishop of Bangor, is £480. The Welsh Baptists of Monmouthshire, at their annual meeting held lately at Brynmawr, passed a resolution re¬ questing the Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, and the editor of the " Baptist Hand¬ book," to classify their denominational statistics with those of the Welsh counties, "inasmuch as Monmouth¬ shire was in reality a part of Wales." The Venerable Archdeacon Lloyd, incumbent of St. Mary's, Shrewsbury, has accepted the rectory of Edgmond, near Newport rendered vacant by the death of the Rev. C. F. C. Pigotfc. Ihis is one of the most valuable livings in the diocese, being of the nett value of £2,100 a year, and is in the gift of the Rev. J. Dryden Corbet, of Sun- dome Castle. The spread of the English language has very seriously affected Welsh Wesleyanism in South Wales. A writer in Y Owyliedydd, the weekly official organ, says that the Vale of Glamorgan has become so English that no denom¬ ination has a purely Welsh congregation in it. The same remark applies to a large extent to Breconshire. During the last twenty-four years Welsh Wesleyans have trans¬ ferred 23 chapels in South Wales alone. In Brynmawr district in 1850 there were 652 members ; the number is now reduced to 199. The Late Mrs Hubt-Sitwell of Febney Hall.— We regret to record the unexpected death of Mrs Hurt- Sitwell, wife of Mr W. W. G. Hurt-Sitwell of Ferney Hall, which took place on Thursday afternoon. The de¬ ceased lady was only taken ill on Wednesday morning, and her sudden death caused the utmost grief to ber rela¬ tives, friends, and dependents. The deceased lady was the only daughter of Mr Richard Burton Phillipson, of Dun- stan House, Staffordshire, and niece of the late Mr Win. Watkin Edward Wynne of Peniarth. She was the second wife of Mr W. W. George Hurt-Sitwell, and has issue one son, Francis Hurt-Sitwell, born on the 14th of January, 1860, and one daughter, Ellinor Harriet Hurt-Sitwell,