should visit it. But it was well worth a pilgrimage on its own account. It hath been commended "by Knights and Squires to have been the most fairest that ever was seen." "The flying traceries of its windows, the variety of its mouldings, and the general richness of its decorations made it the idol of the inhabitants, and the admiration of the faithful throughout Europe."
A curious scene took place in this church in the year 1389 when Archbishop Courtenay ordered three Lollards, who had adjured their heresies, to do penance. Their names were William Smith, Roger Dexter and Alice Dexter. They were condemned to perform their penance on three successive Sundays in the following manner. "On the first Sunday, William and Roger, in their shirts and breeches, and Alice in her shirt only, all with bare feet and heads, were to walk in the procession before high mass in the collegiate church, William carrying an image of St. Katherine, and Roger and Alice each a crucifix in their right hands, while all bore tapers of half-a-pound weight. Three times during the procession, at its beginning, middle, and end, they were to kiss the images, to the honour of the Crucified, and in memory of His passion, and in honour of St. Katherine, bending the knee devoutly. After the procession, they were to stand during the whole of the mass before the great rood, holding their images and tapers, and at the end they were to offer their tapers to the celebrant. Their penance on the following Sunday was to be done in the Market Place, and on the Sunday after in their parish church."
The college was dissolved in 1547, and the grace and beauty of this glorious church were utterly destroyed, some time before 1590.
(6) THE CHURCH OF ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL.
The Hospital, or College, of St. John the Evangelist and St. John the Baptist was a very ancient foundation at Leicester, but little is known of its early history. There does not seem to be any authority for Throsby's statement, that its church was destroyed during the contests between Henry II and his son, although the Hospital may have suffered in the sack of 1173. It was certainly in existence in the 12th century, for, some time
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