In that year, his wide knowledge of books, together with his skill in deciphering manuscripts and detecting literary forgeries, secured him the post of librarian to the library newly founded by Sir Thomas Bodley at Oxford.

Both of these actions, taking place just two months before the library's opening, were in direct opposition to qualifications outlined by Bodley for his librarian.

[3] In December 1610 the library began to receive copies of all works published by the members of the Stationers' Company, under an agreement made with them by Bodley at the suggestion of James.

[1] At the convocation held with the parliament at Oxford in 1625 he moved that certain scholars be commissioned to peruse the patristic manuscripts in all public and private English libraries to detect forgeries introduced by Roman Catholic editors.

Ill health compelled him to resign his post in 1620,[2] he died at Oxford in August 1629, and was buried in New College Chapel.

In this dedication, James praised Bodley and his colleagues for their efforts in reestablishing the Oxford library, though there was never any indication of his future role as librarian.

[5] As the result of his researches in college libraries he published 'Ecloga Oxonio-Cantabrigiensis, tributa in libros duos,' London, 1600, a work commended by Joseph Scaliger.

It includes both printed books and manuscripts, arranged alphabetically under the four classes of theology, medicine, law, and arts.

A continuation of this classified index, embracing writers on arts and sciences, geography and history, is to be found in Rawlinson MS. Miscell.

There was also issued in 1635 'Catalogus Interpretum S. Scripturæ juxta numerorum ordinem qui extant in Bibliotheca Bodleiana olim a D. Jamesio ... concinnatus, nunc vero altera fere parte auctior redditus.

[8] James's other works are: James is said to have been the 'Catholike Divine' who edited, with preface and notes in English, the tract entitled 'Fiscus Papalis; sive, Catalogus Indulgentiarum & Reliquiarum septem principalium Ecclesiarum urbis Romæ ex vetusto Manuscripto Codice descriptus,' London, 1617; another edition, 1621, was accompanied by the English version of William Crashaw.