Edward James (priest)
Edward James (1569 – 1610 or later) was a Welsh Anglican priest and translator.
Life
James was born in
Fellow
of Jesus College sometime in 1589 or 1590, a position he held until about 1596.
After ordination, James's career was assisted by
Llangattock Feibion Afel in 1599 (all in the county of Monmouthshire), and vicar of Llangattock-juxta-Neath, Glamorgan in 1603. He was appointed chancellor of the Diocese of Llandaff in 1606. While one source gives his death date as 1610, another puts it as late as 1620.[1]
Works
James translated the first Book of Homilies into Welsh in 1606. These were twelve authorised sermons on fundamental aspects of Christianity to be read in churches where there was no authorised preacher. This work was inspired by the activities of William Morgan, although Morgan died in 1604 before the work was published.
The linguistic style of the translation owes much to Morgan, and in its turn influenced poets such as
Morris Williams ("Nicander")).[1]
References
- ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online edition, subscription access). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2 March 2009.