Humphrey Leech

, or Lechius as he is sometimes written, was born at Allerton commonly called Ollerton in Shropshire, was entred a Student in Brasnose coll. before the month of Nov. in 1590. for in that year, and of his age 19. he was as a Member of that house matriculated. But before he took the degree of Bach. of Arts he went to Cambridge, where taking the degree of Master, he returned to Oxon in 1602. and in June the same year, he was incorporated in that degree. About that time he was made Vicar of St. Alkmonds Church in Shrewsbury, where making a short stay, he returned to Oxon, and became one of the Chaplains or Petty-Canons of Ch. Ch. Of whose Preaching and what followed, you may see in Hist. & Antiq. Vniv. Oxon. lib. 1. sub. an. 1608. In which year being suspended of his Chaplainship for Preaching publickly some Popish Tenets, (for so they were accounted by the puritanical Doctors of the University in those days,) he left the Church of England, and went to Arras in Artois, where he wrote these things following.

The triumph of Truth. Or a declaration of the doctrine concerning Evangelical counsayles, in two parts. Doway 1609. oct.

Sermon in defence of Evangelical counsayles, and the Fathers, on Apoc. 20. 12.—Printed with the former book.

Twelve motives which perswaded him to embrace the Catholick Religion.

An honourable Grand-Jury of 24 Fathers, testifying the distinction betwixt legal precepts, and evangelical counsayles, by their uniform Verdict.—Which book, with the Motives, were printed with The triumph of Truth.

Humble considerations presented to King James concerning his premonitory Epistle sent to all Christian Princes. S. Om [•] r 1609. Afterwards our author going to Rome, was admitted into the Society of Jesus, an. 1618. before or after which time, he lived in the English coll. of Jesuits at Liege, and was most commonly the Porter there. At length being sent into the English Mission, settled in a R. Cath. house in Cheshire, near the River Mersie, own’d by one Massie, where he departed this life in July (about the 18. day) in sixteen hundred twenty and nine, 2629 as I have been informed by Will. Lacey of Oxon, one of his Society, whom I shall remember when I come to the year 1673. as having been originally of this University.