(John), bishop of Rois in Scotland, the son of Gavin Leslie an eminent lawyer, was born in the year 1526, and educated at the university of Aberdeen; of which diocese he was made official, when but a youth. He was soon after created doctor of civil and canon law; but being peculiarly addicted to the study of divinity, he took orders, and became parson of Une. When the reformation began to spread in Scotland, and disputes about religion ran high, Dr Leslie, in 1560, distinguished himself at Edinburgh as a principal advocate for the Romish church, and was afterwards deputed by the chief nobility of that religion to console with queen Mary on the death of her husband the king of France, and to invite her to return to her native dominions. Accordingly, after a short residence with her majesty, they embarked together at Calais in 1561, and landed at Leith. She immediately made him one of her privy-council, and a senator of the college of justice. In 1564, he was made abbot of Lundores; and on the death of Sinclair was promoted to the bishopric of Rois. These accumulated honours he wished not to enjoy in luxurious indolence. The influence derived from them, he exerted to the prosperity of his country. It is to him that Scotland is indebted for the publication of its laws, commonly called "The black acts of parliament," from the Saxon character in which they were printed. At his most earnest desire, the revision and collection of them were committed to the great officers of the crown. In 1568, queen Mary having fled to England for refuge, and being there detained a prisoner, queen Elizabeth appointed certain commissioners at York to examine into the cause of the dispute between Mary and her subjects. These commissioners were met by others from the queen of Scots. The bishop of Rois was of the number, and pleaded the cause of his royal mistress with great energy, though without success: Elizabeth had no intention to release her. Mary, disappointed in her expectations from the conference at York, sent the bishop of Rois ambassador to Elizabeth, who paid little attention to his complaints. He then began to negotiate a marriage between his royal mistress and the duke of Norfolk; which negotiation, it is well known, proved fatal to the duke, and was the cause of Leslie's being sent to the Tower. In 1573 he was banished the kingdom, and retired to Holland. Holland. The two following years he spent in fruitless endeavours to engage the powers of Europe to espouse the cause of his queen. His last application was to the pope; but the power of the heretic Elizabeth had no less weight with his holiness than with the other Roman Catholic princes of Europe. Finding all his personal applications ineffectual, he had recourse to his pen in Queen Mary's vindication; but Elizabeth's ultima ratio regum was too potent for all his arguments. Bishop Leslie, during his exile, was made coadjutor to the archbishop of Rouen. He was at Brussels when he received the account of Queen Mary's execution; and immediately retired to the convent of Guirtenberg near that city, where he died in the year 1596. It was during the long and unfortunate captivity of Mary, that he amused himself in writing the History of Scotland, and his other works. The elegance and charms of literary occupations served to assuage the violence of his woes. His knowledge and judgment as an historian are equally to be commended. Where he acts as the transcriber of Boece, there may be distinguished, indeed, some of the inaccuracies of that writer. But, when he speaks in his own person, he has a manliness, a candour, and a moderation, which appear not always even in authors of the Protestant persuasion. His works are, 1. Affici animi consolationes, &c. composed for the consolation of the captive queen. 2. De origine, moribus, et gestis Scotorum. 3. De titulo et jure serenissima Mariae Scotorum regine, quo regni Anglia successionem sibi justa vindicat. 4. Parenstis ad Anglos et Scotos. 5. De illustri faminarum in reipublic. administraanda, &c. 6. Oration ad reginam Elisabetham pro libertate imperandra. 7. Parenstis ad nobilitatem populique Scoticum. 8. An account of his proceedings during his embassy in England from 1568 to 1572; manuscript, Oxon. 9. Apology for the bishop of Rofo, concerning the duke of Norfolk; manuscript, Oxon. 10. Several letters, manuscript.

Leslie (Charles), an Irish divine, and a zealous Protestant; but being attached to the house of Stuart, he left Ireland, and went to the pretender at Bar le Duc, and resided with him till near the time of his death; constantly endeavouring to make him a Protestant, but without effect. He died in 1722. His principal works are, 1. A short and easy method with the Deists. 2. A short and easy method with the Jews. 3. The snake in the grotts. 4. Hereditary right to the Crown of England asserted. 5. The Socinian controversy discussed. 6. The charge of Socinianism against Dr Tillotson considered; and many others.

All his theological pieces, except that against Archbishop Tillotson, were collected and published by himself in 2 vols folio.