GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-002753
NameRoger Ley
Title
Gendermale
Denomination
Livedb. ca. 1593-03-25 - d. ca. 1668-03-25 (old)
Linked Manuscriptsmanuscript owner - Commonplace book: MS.1952.003
Linked SermonsA funeral sermon. For Joane Winship at St Leonard in Shoreditch Aprill 6 1633 -- preacher (autograph: yes)The preface and conclusion of a funerall sermon for Anne Ley by Mr John Squire Parstour of the Church of St Leonar Shoreditch -- scribe (autograph: no)
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesCrewe -- HomeJesus College -- Place of StudyBrean -- PostMoulton -- PostSt Leonard Shoreditch -- Post
Source of DataCatherine Evans
Biographical Sources ConsultedODNB (Article: 65831)
Other NoteBorn in Crewe, Cheshire in 1593/4. Matriculated at Jesus College, Cambridge, in Easter 1606, graduating BA in 1610 and MA in 1613. Ordained as a deacon in Peterborough on 11 April 1614 and as a priest in London on 31 May 1618. He was quickly appointed curate of St Leonard Shoreditch, and may have been curate of Moulton, Northamptonshire in 1619. He married Anne, the daughter of Thomas Norman, a leatherseller, on 19 February 1622. He preached two Paul's Cross sermons in 1618 and 1621, respectively. Published as "The Sceptre of Righteousness" and "The Bruising of the Serpent's Head", they reveal a belief in the Calvinist doctrine of election and an awareness of the dangers of superstition and idolatry, counter to the growing Laudian influence at the time. He was the author of "Gesta Britannica", a Latin history of the church (BL Stowe MS 76). He is most famous for denouncing Paul Best for his anti-Trinitarian position. Best and Ley had been friends at college, and in 1644 Best gave his writings on the Trinity to Ley for comment. Ley reported him at once to the authorities. He also wrote an unpublished biography of Best. The original has not survive but notes taken from it are the main sources for Best's life. Ley finished his life as rector of Brean, Somerset a post he held from 1663 until his death in 1668. The Leys seem to have had no children.
GEMMS record createdNovember 06, 2019
GEMMS record last editedMarch 25, 2020