EDWARD, a learned theological critic, was born at Shawell in Leicestershire, in 1602. After studying at Oxford, where he enrolled as a commoner of Magdalen Hall in 1616, he became a student of law in the Middle Temple. He then devoted himself to his professional duties and literature till 1636, when he entered parliament as member for Stafford. He became a colonel in the parliamentary army during the civil war, and soon afterwards a member of the Assembly of Divines. Being favourable to a reconciliation with the king, he was turned out of parliament along with the Presbyterian party in 1648. From this time, till his death in 1671, he was engaged in the study of theology, and published the following works:—A Body of Divinity, London, 1654; Annotations on the Five Poetical Books of the Old Testament, London, 1657; Annotations upon all the New Testament, London, 1650; A Treatise of the Divine Promises, London, 1633; Critica Sacra, his most important work, London, 1662; A Treatise of Religion and Learning, and of Religious and Learned Men, London, 1656.

a manufacturing and market-town of England, county of Lancaster, on the Wigan Canal, 12 miles W. of Manchester. It consists of two principal streets, from which several smaller ones diverge in different directions. The only public buildings are, an old parish church, the townhall, and several chapels. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the manufacture of cotton, silk goods, cambrics, muslins, and fustians, especially the two first. In the neighbourhood cheese and glue are made to some extent. The factories are plentifully supplied with coal and lime from the surrounding country, which abounds with these minerals. Market-day, Saturday. Two annual fairs are held here, where cattle and cheese form the staples of trade. Leigh has railway and canal communication with all the manufacturing and mining districts of Lancashire. Pop. (1851) 5206.