 James was presumably an Italian , like the other members of the Gregorian mission . The dates of his birth and of his arrival in Britain are unknown . He went with Paulinus to Northumbria accompanying Æthelburh , sister of King Eadbald of Kent , who went to Northumbria to marry King Edwin . Traditionally this event is dated to 625 , but the historian D. P. Kirby argues that the mission to Northumbria probably happened before 619 . 
