He cited Catherine of Aragon to appear before Thomas Cranmer and hear the final divorce sentence in 1533, and in the same year also conducted an inquiry at Rievaulx Abbey which led to the resignation of the abbot.
On 4 June 1535 Richard Layton wrote to Cromwell recommending Leigh and himself to be Visitors of the northern religious houses.
Sir John ap Rice, who thought his treatment of the monks needlessly severe, describes his insolence.
At Cambridge Leigh's changes were few; he ordered (22 October 1535) the charters to be sent up to London with a rental of the university possessions, tried to pacify the strife among the nations, and established a lecture in divinity.
In August 1536 he had made a tour through the Midlands archdeaconries of Coventry and Stafford, and was much distressed by the open adultery of the country gentlemen.
His widow Dame Joanna (née Cotton) remarried Sir Thomas Chaloner, and died 11 January 1557.