was the little churchyard with some few grave stones. "At the foot of the North Bridge, in an area enclosed by a low wall, and distinguished by a few scattered gravestones, the churchyard of St. Leonard's meets the eye."
A new church of the same name was built in the 19th century on part of the old site. In the Old Town Hall Library of Leicester, there is a copy of Cranmer's Bible, printed in 1553, which contains the following M.S. note. "Mr. Rudiarde is witness that this Byble apertaineth to the Parishe of St. Leanordes anno Domini 1581, E.C."
(9) THE CHURCH OF ST. SEPULCHRE,
OR ST. JAMES'S CHAPEL.
The church of the Holy Sepulchre was situated beyond the south wall of the town, on a site now occupied by the Royal Leicester Infirmary. It belonged to the church of St. Mary of the Castle, and was served probably by one of the chaplains who assisted the Vicar of St. Mary's. The church was in existence before the end of the 12th century. It faced the public gallows, and the bodies of those who were hung were generally buried within its cemetery. In two cases the corpses revived. In the year 1363, according to Henry of Knighton, Walter Wynkbourn was hanged at Leicester, at the instance of the preceptor of Dalby, and when he was taken down from the gallows, and was being carried for dead to the cemetery of St. Sepulchre at Leicester to be buried, he began to come to life again, and was carried into the chapel, and there guarded by a Leicester priest. It happened that the King, Edward the Third, was then staying at Leicester Abbey; and, when he heard of this strange occurrence, he sent Wynkbourn a free pardon, saying, in Henry's presence, "God has given thee life, and I will give thee a charter of mercy." Ten years later, another man, named Peter King, was not so fortunate. He revived, as he lay before the high altar of the church; but, on this occasion, the convict was promptly dragged out of the church again, and incontinently rehanged.
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