In each of the spandrels formed by these arches, there is a small lozenge-shaped panel, containing ornaments which bear a striking resemblance to the Grecian honeysuckle, and deserve notice for their singularity. The small portion of the nave which remains is now used as the organ-loft, and to the south of it, over that which was once a part of the aile of the nave, has been built a comparatively modern brick tower having on it the date of 1628.

The nave of the church in its original state extended, it is supposed, as far as the front of the houses in Smithfield, where even now a stone archway remains, as shewn in our view of the exterior, which probably formed the entrance to the south aile. It has around it a dog-tooth ornament. Vestiges of the ancient foundations are to be found in the churchyard, (which is situated between Smithfield and the present Church,) within a few feet of the surface.

In the small part of the south transept which remains, a vestry-room has been formed, and the remainder of the site formerly occupied by it, is now used as an additional burial ground, around which may be seen the ruins of some portion of the old priory.

According to the late Mr. Carter, who described the church in 1809,' a magnificent chapel stood on the east side of this transept, a portion of the principal entrance to which may now be seen in the small burial ground.

The eastern end of the church presented until very lately a painted altar-piece in the classic style, which, although tolerably well executed, looked, it need hardly be said, sadly out of place: this however has been removed, and a range of columns with enriched capitals, bearing small

semicircular arches, has been introduced, to the improvement of the general effect.

When the painting was taken down, the stone wall behind it, which is of a date posterior to the original priory, and may perhaps be ascribed to Bolton, was seen to be painted in water colour, of a bright red, spotted with black

stars.1

Above the altar-piece occurs a brick wall of even later date than that behind the altar, having in it two semicircular headed windows, which, although somewhat improved during the late alterations, still present a mean appearance.

Behind the stone wall already spoken of, which from the choir may be conceived to be the termination of the church, extends a chamber, traditionally termed "purgatory"; which originally formed the chancel of the church, as is evident on inspection; and again beyond this there is an aile connecting that on the north and south sides of the choir. The annexed engraving represents the appearance of the aile, which is seen to be in the simplest Norman style. This end of the church appears to have been originally semicircular in its plan. The chamber formed by the interposition of the stone wall between the choir and the east aile contained, until lately, several thousand bones.

The practice of painting on the walls of a building may be traced to an early date in England; Henry III, kept several painters in his service. One chamber in the palace of Winchester was painted green with gold stars ; and even after the invention of tapestry, painting was sometimes used as a substitute for it. Shakspeare makes Falstaff say, (2nd part Henry IV. s. I.) "A pretty slight drollery, or the story of the prodigal, or the German hunting in water work, is worth a thousand of these bed-hangings, and these fly-bitten tapestries." See Hunt's “ Exemplars of Tudor Architecture; History of the ancient palace of Westminster," by Brayley and

also " Britton.

"

At the east end of the south aile is the old vestry; a small chamber of the same character as the ailes, which probably formed a part of the original building.

The pulpit formerly stood against one of the pillars on the north side of the church: this however has been removed, and two modern pulpits now occupy the body of the church. Among the monuments within the church,and there are many,-the principal is one to the memory of RAHERE the founder; which is an elegant specimen of the pointed style of architecture, and presents the effigy of the prior recumbent beneath a canopy, with an angel kneeling at his feet, and monks praying by his side. It

is situated on the northern side of the church, next the altar, and is inscribed,

Hic facet Raherus,

Primus Canonicus, et primus Prior hujus Ecclesiæ.1

The date of this monument is unknown; but, from the style of its architecture, it may be inferred, that it was not erected until a long time after the death of the founder.

On the opposite side of the church is a monument to the memory of Sir Walter Mildmay, which is of the Elizabethan period, displaying a mixture of the classic forms, then becoming known, with the style which had been in general use it is adorned with numerous shields, and bears the following inscription ;—

"Mors nobis lucrum,

Hic jacent Gualterus Mildmay, miles, et uxor ejus. Ipse obiit ultimo die, Maii, 1589. Ipsa 16 die Martii, 1576. Reliquierunt duos filios, et tres filias. Fundavit Collegium Emanuelis Cantabrigiæ. Moritur Cancellarius et Sub. Thesaurarius Scaccarii et Regiæ Majestati a Consili is."

In 1830, the interior of the church was damaged by fire, and but for timely exertion, might have been destroyed on this occasion, a portion of the vaulting over the south aile fell, and was seen to be composed of rubble work.

Of the existing remains of the priory other than the church, we can only speak very succinctly. From a plan of the priory made by the late Mr. Carter in 1791, and now in the possession of Mr. Britton, it appears that a cloister enclosing a plot of ground, nearly square, extended about one hundred feet from the south side of the Church, and of this the greater part of that which formed the eastern side

A view of this is engraved in the "Vetusta Monumenta," from a drawing by J. Carter. This monument is said "to have been repaired in the time of Henry VIII.”

still exists,-sufficient indeed, when viewed in conjunction with many other inferior remnants, the crypt under the dormitory, &c. discoverable amongst the contiguous buildings, to enable us to judge somewhat of the original extent of the establishment.1 This cloister is in the occupation of Mr. Wheeler a livery-stable keeper; the vaulting is formed of chalk and rubble stones, united by mortar with stone groins, which spring from clustered columns on either side, and have carved bosses at the intersections. The groining is simple and good; and we cannot help regretting the present degraded and dilapidated state in which the cloister remains, or avoid expressing a hope that some measures may speedily be adopted to prevent any farther injury, and preserve that which time seems to have respected. It is evidently of later date than the church itself, with which it communicates by a door at the north end. The length of it according to Malcolm is 95 feet, and the width 15 feet.

1 The refectory was on the south side of the Church, at a short distance from the end of the transept, and communicated with the cloisters. The great close is now occupied by modern buildings; but the site still bears the name. In the lesser close, at the east end of the church, were the prior's stables and kitchen offices.