under which the Essex rebels held a council before they marched to join Wat Tyler in Smithfield, where he was slain by William of Walworth, and the rebel miscreants put to flight.

"Upon the death of Mr. Mussell, in October 1764, this house and lands devolved to his widow, Sarah, who intermarrying in May 1765, with John Gretton the younger, of Hampstead, in the county of Middlesex, Esq. they passed by settlement to him, and are now in his possession.

"The living of Bethnal Green is in the gift of Brazen Nose College, Oxford. A little beyond Aldgate House the cruel bishop Bonner is said to have had his country residence, rendered infamous by the torments inflicted in it upon the victims who were so unhappy to be the objects of his persecuting power. A part of this building still remains on the north side of the field, called Bonner's Field; and retains its pristine name of Bishop Bonner's Hall, or Bishop's Hall.

"In a six acre field, facing the great west wall of Aldgate House gardens, but on the other side the high road to Bow, is a fine spring of excellent water, dedicated so early as the year 1160, to St. Winifrid; till of late years it was enclosed in a Gothic building, and from it were placed pipes of copper, to convey the water under ground to the villages, monasteries, and other religious foundations in its vicinity; but the Bow water being laid into Bethnal Green, the spring was closed, the building pulled down, and the land made good for pasturage over it.

"I have thus given you, gentlemen, a sketch of what I know respecting my house, the village in which it stands, &c. &c. and am

"Your friend and well wisher,

Belmont Place, Vauxhall,

April 30, 1806.

"JOHN GRETTON."

Returning to BRICK LANE, and passing the house for the Court of Requests belonging to the Tower Hamlets, we arrive at the high road, and the parish church of

ST.

THE first church that stood on this spot, after that erected as a chapel of ease to St. Dunstan's, Stepney, was called St. Mary Matfellon; a name which has produced many strange conjectures respecting its origin: however, it appears to have been derived from the Hebrew or Syriac word Matfel, which signifies a woman who has lately brought forth a son, alluding to Mary's being delivered of Our Saviour: so that the church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, though it afterwards obtained the antient name of Whitechapel, which was also given to the long street at the end of which it is situated*. Hugh de Fulbourn was rector in the year 1329.

The

* Mr. Wells's Explanation of Matfellon to Strype, copied by Mr. Pennant, in his London, p. 249, from an oriental etymology, is rather doubtful. I have been informed by the rev. Edward Robson, the worthy curate of this parish, to whom I am indebted for part of the following fact; that a friend saw in an old French heraldic book at the British Museum the emblazoned arms of a family of Mathefelon: this circumstance appears conclusive, in fixing the derivation of Matfellon; and it is corroborated by Stowe, who says he had seen records, in which the parish is termed Villa beata Maria de Matfellon, dated 21 Richard II. It is therefore extremely probable that some of the above family

The old church being in a very ruinous condition, it was taken down in 1673, and the present edifice was soon after erected in its stead. The building is nearly square, and separated into three ailes, by four round and four square pillars. The centre intercolumniation on each side forms a large arch, similar to those of transepts, nearly plain; this intersects that of the nave; two others on the sides inclose diminutive Venetian clerestory windows: pilasters on the north and south walls support the entablatures of the pillars, between which are large Venetian windows. The galleries do not interfere with the pillars; that for the organ is remarkably handsome, on Composite pillars, and has a rich carving, on the front, of David playing on the harp, surrounded by musical instruments, and fruit in festoons. Two gilt frames surmount the cornice.

The organ is in a fine case, profusely carved, and loaded with no less than six figures of Fames and urchins, gilt. A new organ, by Shreider, was opened on the anniversary of the Restoration, 1715.

The altar-piece consists of two Composite pillars, imitations of lapis lazuli, supporting a pediment; the carvings are gilt and elegant. A window in the east wall has been

+

closed, and inscribed with I H S; over it is a painted glory, and on the sides are painted figures of Moses and Aaron *.

MONUMENTS

mily were the antient lords of the manor, and that it bore their name. The subsequent appellation of Whitechapel, seems to have been taken from the colour of the walls of the chapel, as we have many parishes in the kingdom that bear the name of Whitechapel.-Malcolm.

*This supplies the place of the picture alluded to in the following advertisement, which represented Dr. White Kennet, bishop of Peterborough, as Judas in the Last Supper, and was generally attributed to the political malice of Dr. Weltou, the non-juring rector of this church.

"Whereas there is a new altar-piece, or painting, put up in the chancel of the church of Whitechapel, within the diocese of London (belonging to the rector of the said parish) is drawn as sitting in an elbow chair in a priest's gown and band, and other appearances of a dig