(James), one of the most polite writers of the 16th century, was born in Italy, near the lake Garda. He was secretary to the cardinal de Bari, and after his death to the cardinal Ghinucci. He afterwards read public lectures on Aristotle's politics, and on rhetoric; and was made historiographer to the republic of Genoa. He applied himself to compose the annals of that state, in which he wrote too faithfully on some families. This creating him enemies who were resolved to ruin him, they accused him of the unnatural sin; and, as witnesses were found to convict him of it, he was condemned to be burnt. Some say that this sentence was executed; and others, that his punishment was changed, and that he was beheaded. This was in the year 1560. Upon the day of his execution he wrote a note to John Baptist Grimaldi, to testify his gratitude to the persons who had endeavoured to serve him; and promised to inform them how he found himself in the other world, if it could be done without frightening them. But it does not appear that he performed his promise, any more than the many who had promised the like before him.—His history of Genoa is esteemed. We have also some letters, orations, and Latin and Italian poems, of his, which were printed at Bologna in the year 1744, octavo.