(James), a noted English enthusiast, was born, about 1616, in the parish of Ardesty, not far from Wakefield in Yorkshire. His father, though a farmer, and the proprietor of an estate, gave his son but a mean education; which is perhaps to be regretted, for his parts were very considerable. He married when very young and settled in Wakefield parish. In 1641 he was a private soldier under Lord Fairfax, being then a presbyterian; but he afterwards became an independent, and was made quarter-master under General Lambert. In 1651-2, he was converted by George Fox the apostle of the Quakers, and soon commenced a preacher and prophet among that people. One of his prophecies was, that the last and general judgment should be on the 15th day of the ensuing November. The falsehood of this prediction was soon perceived, and of course his imposture ought to have been detected; but such is the power of enthusiasm over the human mind, that his fame rose daily; and upon his going to London in 1655, he excited to no common pitch the envy of his brethren. He had strange fancies of celestial illuminations, and considered himself as a great favourite of heaven. In 1656 he went into the west of England, but his extravagances were so great and his opinions so blasphemous, that even in those days of fanatical delusion, they were heard with such horror, that the author of them was imprisoned in Exeter gaol; from which however he was relieved in the space of a month. Upon this he determined to return to London; but taking Bristol in his way, he made his entrance into that city in imitation of our Saviour's entrance into Jerusalem, the people strewing the way, &c., and calling out "Holy, holy, holy, lord God of Sabaoth; holanna in the highest, &c." So impious a conduct could could not escape animadversion: he was apprehended with six of his associates. On examination he defended all that had passed; and was soon after with his followers sent to London, imprisoned, and condemned to be whipt, and then put to hard labour. The sentence, though much petitioned against, was executed, and he recovered his senses, expressed his repentance, and was again received by the Quakers, who, during his impious frenzy, had disowned him. In 1659 he was freed from prison; and the following year set off to see his wife and children; but being robbed and left bound by the way, he was found in that state and carried to a friend's house at Rippon, where he died in November 1660. He was accounted the author of several works. His eccentricities, however, rather than his writings, have preserved his character; and he stands forward to the world, not so much as a man of genius or parts, though he was in some measure possessed of both, but rather as a striking example of the power of enthusiasm over the human mind, and of the danger of giving way to the religious reveries of an overheated imagination.