Background
He was born in Lancashire, and entered Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1571.
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William Leigh
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There he was elected fellow in 1573, graduated Bachelor of Arts on 10 December 1574, Master of Arts
Career
He is now remembered for his sermon series Queene Elizabeth paraleld from 1612, which includes the first published text record for the queen"s speech to the troops at Tilbury from 1588. On 29 January 1578, and Bachelor of Divinity on 4 July 1586. He took holy orders, and was known as a preacher at Oxford and elsewhere.
On 24 July 1584 he asked the university authorities for a preaching license, to enable him to preach at Saint Paul"s Cross.
In 1586 he was presented by Bishop William Chaderton to the rectory of Standish, near Wigan, Lancashire, which he held till his death. He was made a justice of the peace, and led an active public life.
He was also chaplain to Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby, and often preached before his patron. In June 1608 Lord Chancellor Egerton gave him the mastership of Ewelme Hospital, Oxfordshire.
This sinecure position was made from 1617 to support the Oxford Professor of Physic, but the transition was the tenure of his successor William White from 1611 to 1628.
As a parish priest he continued the restoration of the church, which was begun by his predecessor, and gave an oak pulpit in 1616. He died on 26 November 1639, aged 89, and was buried in the chancel of Standish Church, where there is a brass, with Latin inscription, to his memory.
