JAMES (Richard), nephew of the former, entered into orders in 1615: but, being a man of humour, of three sermons preached before the university, one concerning the observation of Lent was without a text, according to the most ancient manner; another against the text; and the third beside it. About the year 1619, he travelled through Wales, Scotland, Shetland, into Greenland, and Russia, of which he wrote observations. He assisted Selden in composing his Marmora Arundeliana; and was very serviceable to Sir Robert Cotton, and his son Sir Thomas, in disposing and settling their noble library. He died in 1638; and has an extraordinary character given him by Wood for learning and abilities.
Knights of St. James, a military order in Spain, first instituted about the year 1170 by Ferdinand II. king of Leon and Galicia. The greatest dignity belonging to this order is that of Grand Master, which has been united to the crown of Spain. The knights are obliged to make proof of their descent from families that have been noble, for four generations, on both sides; they must likewise make it appear, that their said ancestors have neither been Jews, heretics, nor Saracens; nor have ever been called into question by the inquisition. The novices are obliged to serve six months in the galleys, and to live a month in a monastery; they observe the rules of St. Austin, making no vows but of poverty, obedience, and conjugal fidelity.
James's Powder, an antimonial medicine, somewhat of the nature of tartar emetic, prepared by the late Dr. Robert James, physician in London, who died on the 23d of March 1776. His powder was found to be of considerable efficacy in some kinds of fevers; so that it is much to be regretted, that the inventor thought proper to conceal his method of preparing it even till his death.
James-Town, in North America, was once the capital of Virginia, but now Williamsburg claims that honour. It is seated on a peninsula on the north side of James river; and consists of about 80 houses, chiefly for the entertainment of seafaring men; for the seat of the government, and the courts of justice, have been removed to Williamsburg, which is seven miles north of it. W. Long. 77. 30. N. Lat. 37. 0.
St. James's Day, a festival of the Christian church, observed on the 25th of July, in honour of St. James the greater, son of Zebedee.
Epistle of St. James, a canonical book of the New Testament, being the first of the catholic or general epistles;
Jamesone epistles; which are so called, as not being written to one but to several Christian churches.
This general epistle is addressed partly to the believing and partly to the infidel Jews; and is designed to correct the errors, soften the ungoverned zeal, and reform the indecent behaviour of the latter; and to comfort the former under the great hardships they then did, or shortly were to suffer, for the sake of Christianity.