It was anciently the custom for some learned man, appointed by the Bishops, to preach a sermon at St. Paul’s Cross, relating to Christ’s passion, on Good Friday in the afternoon; and upon Easter Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, other sermons were preached in the forenoon at the Spital, on Christ’s resurrection: on Low Sunday in the forenoon a rehearsal was made of these four sermons at St. Paul’s Cross, in which they were either commended or censured; and, after all, the Priest made a sermon himself. At these sermons the Lord Mayor and Aldermen were usually present, with their wives; and since the reformation these sermons are continued by the name of _Spital Sermons_ at St. Bride’s in Fleet street, on Easter Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The pulpit cross was broke down in the grand rebellion. _Maitland._ _St._ MARY’S STAINING, a small church, formerly seated on the north side of Oat lane, in the ward of Aldersgate within. The reason why it received the additional epithet of _Staining_, is very uncertain; some imagining it to be derived from the painter stainers, who might probably live near it; while others suppose that it was originally called _Stany_ or _Stony_ from its being built with stone, to distinguish it from those in the city built with wood, &c. This ancient edifice, however, being destroyed by the fire of London, and not rebuilt, the parish was united to St. Michael’s Wood street. _Stowe._ _St._ MARY WHITECHAPEL, was originally erected as a chapel of ease to the church of St. Dunstan, Stepney; and from its external appearance probably received the additional epithet of _White_. We read of this church in 1329, and the first chapel was probably of much greater antiquity. The church was anciently denominated _St. Mary Matsellon_, a name which some have ridiculously supposed was derived from the women of the parish having killed a Frenchman, about the year 1428, for murdering and robbing his benefactress, a religious widow, who had generously brought him up almost from his infancy: but this church was known by this name above an hundred years before this bloody catastrophe. Mr. Strype, therefore, in his edition of _Stowe’s Survey_, with greater appearance of reason derives the name from the Hebrew or Syriac word _Matsel_ which signifies a woman who has lately brought forth a son; alluding to Mary’s being delivered of our Saviour: however, this name has given way to the more ancient one of Whitechapel, which is even given to the long street by which the edifice is situated.