to Richard Basset's charter to St. John's Hospital, executed about that time, were "William, Priest of St. Michael," and "Alexander, Chaplain of St. Michael." In the year 1221 William Eyton was the vicar, and Henry de St. Martin in 1323. The church continued to be used during the 14th century, and we hear of a monk living as an anchorite there who had been trained by the great Leicester Abbot, William de Clowne. Like most of the 14th century churches of Leicester, it had its religious Guild, founded some time before 1361, in which year a house in Belgravegate was conveyed to Sir William of Birstall, chaplain, and Robert of Belgrave, skinner, "Brethren of the Guild of St. Michael at Leicester." Thomas of Beeby, who died about 1383, left a legacy to this guild. But there are some signs that the fortunes of the church were even then failing; and one may note that a man named Thomas, who was charged before the Portmanmote in 1378-9 with trespass, and was distrained "by a tabard and slop and a bed price 20 shillings," is described as being "late chaplain of the church of St. Michael."
The use of the church was discontinued in the 15th century; indeed Throsby says that it was totally demolished "about 1400." In 1487 there was no vicar, and evidently there had been none for some time. The lands of the church then belonged to the Abbot of Leicester, "pendente vacatione vicariae," the Bishop of Lincoln having waived any claim. The church itself seems to have disappeared at any rate before 1500, and the parish became united first with St. Peter's, and then with All Saints'. It lay between those two parishes, the church being situated somewhere in the "Back Lanes," between the old High Street and the eastern wall of the town. It was approached by a street described in old deeds as "the common way which leads to the church of St. Michael," which ran westward out of that part of the King's highway that was called Torchmere. Some land belonging to St. Michael's church abutted on the Town Wall and ditch.
After the Leicester authorities had obtained the royal charter in 1589, they recognized the services of their Town Clerk, William Dethick, by giving him a share of the Borough land, and by a conveyance bearing date the 27th day of April, 1591, they granted
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