JAMES

JAMES, Thomas, a learned English critic and divine, was born at Newport, in the Isle of Wight, about the year 1571. Having completed his preliminary studies at West-

minster School, he entered New College, Oxford, of which he became a fellow in 1593; took his degree as master of arts in 1599; and having collated several manuscripts of the Philobiblion of Richard of Durham, which he published in 4to, dedicated to Sir Thomas Bodley, he recommended himself to the favour of that munificent patron of learning, and through his influence was in 1602 appointed keeper of the public library, an office which he held during eighteen years. In 1614 he was created doctor in divinity, promoted to the archdeaconry of Wells, and about the same time presented to the rectory of Mongeham in Kent, not to mention other spiritual preferments. In 1620 he resigned his situation as librarian, and applied himself chiefly to the readings of old manuscripts, in which he assures Archbishop Usher that he had restored three hundred citations, or rescued them from corruptions. Having been chosen a member of the convocation held with the parliament at Oxford in 1625, he there moved to have commissioners appointed to collate the manuscripts of the fathers in all the libraries of England, with the Roman Catholic editions; but as this project did not meet with the desired encouragement, he himself undertook the arduous task, and continued to prosecute it until his death, which took place in August 1629. He left behind him a great number of learned works, the principal of which are, 1. Philobiblion Ricardi Dunelmensis, 1599; 2. Cyprianus Redivivus, London, 1600; 3. Catalogus Librorum in Bibliotheca Bodleiana, Oxford, 1605, in 4to; 4. Concordantie SS. Patrum, Oxford, 1607, in 4to; 5. Apology for John Wickliffe, Oxford, 1608, in 4to; 6. Specimen Corruptelarum Pontificorum in Cypriano, Ambrosio, Gregorio Magno, &c. London, 1626; 7. Index librorum prohibitorum a pontificibus, Oxford, 1627, in 8vo; and, 8, some pieces in manuscript. (A.)