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 Ald. gate 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, 8.629 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 case 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 ratherdoubtful. I have been informed by the rev. Edward Robson, the worthy curate of this parish, to whom I am indebted for part of the fol lowing 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 beate Maria de Matfellon, dated 21 Richard II. It is therefore extremely probable that some of the above fa 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 X 6 Aaron *. X 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 78629 MONUMENTS. On the north wall, a female reclining on the base of a sarcophagus, with the following inseription: Sacred to the memory of the Rev. ROBERT MARKHAN, D.D. Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty George III. and Rector of this Parish, who died September 25, 1786, aged fifty-nine years. In testimony of the high esteem in which they held his character as a zealous Pastor of a numerous flock, as an earnest and dr thodox preacher of the Gospel, as a truly pious and benevolent man, as a peace maker, and a spiritual father and friend, his Parishioners have erected this monument. "The Righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance." Psalm cxii. 6. Immediately facing is a plain tablet, inscribed: In memory of THOMAS DICKSON, M. D. F. R. S. born at Dumfries, educated at Edinburgh and Leyden, twenty-five years Physician to the London Hospital; a man of singular probity, loyalty, and humanity, kind to his relations, beloved by all who knew him, learned and skilful in his profession, unfee'd by the poor, he lived to do good, and died a Christian believer, June 1, 1784, aged fifty-eight years. His sorrowing and only daughter caused this monument to be erected. On the staircase wainscot, a plain tablet, on which is the following character of another worthy pastor of the establifhed church of England. M. S. THOME GRIFFITH, S. T. P. Coll. Pemb. Oxon. olim Socii, deinde Parochiæ de Bishop-Stoke in Diœcesi Winton. Rectoris. Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit. Feb. 11, anno ælafis 51, hu mana Salutis 1774, nified clergyman of the church of England; these are to give notice, that if any person or persons will discover who was the designer and director of that impious fancy, they or either of them shall have ten gui neas reward immediately paid, upon information and evidence so given, in order to prosecute any prophane fellow concerned in it, by me, "WILLOUGHBY WILLEY." To this letter an answer was presently published. That altar-piece was taken down by order of the bishop of London, May 3, 1714; and the obnoxious picture is now the altar-piece of St. Alban's abbey church, by the gift of some person who purchased it. -Malcolm. There There were no rectors of peculiar eminence, except Dr. ROBERT MARKHAM, whose character is so justly pourtrayed on his monument; and in whom the piety, virtue, and bene volence of the Christian were most peculiarly united. His attendance to his duty, even in the latter period of his life, while labouring under the weakness of a severe asthma, was constant and regular; and his earnest attentions in propagating the true principles of the Christian religion among the younger branches of his parishioners, will hold his remembrance dear to posterity. By his charity and benevolence, though possessed of a good patrimony, and of respectable family, being brother to the present venerable archbishop of York, he died in very inferior circumstances. This church was a rectory, in the gift of the minister of Stepney, in the year 1329; in whose successors the pa tronage continued till 1711, when it was purchased by the principal and scholars of King's and Brazen-nose College, Oxford, in whom the advowson still remains. In a tenter ground in this parish, near Goodman's Fields, was discovered, in 1787, a stone about fifteen inches by twelve inches, and three inches thick, besides several fragments of Roman urns and lachrymatories. On the stone was the folJowing inscription: D. M. FL. AGRICOLA. MIL. In Horsley Brit. Rom. p. 79. Legio Sexta Victrix." I do not find it is mentioned in any inscription belonging to the southern parts of this island. The sixth legion is mentioned in Collinson's History of Somersetshire, In two instances, vol. I. p. 9, at Bath. VOL. IV. No.95 DEAE. SVLI. PRO. SALVTE. ET. INCOLVMITA TE. MAR. AVFID AVFIDIVS. EV 3 L Deas |