If a tower were built upon the summit of Round NEW BOOKS AND REPRINTS. Top, of such a height as to overlook the trees, a Mr. Charles H. Peirce has sent us a beautiful circle of more than one hundred miles diameter would delight the traveller. The expense of such volume,-Poetry of Life, by William B. Tappan,a tower would be trifling, not more than one hun- from which we shall be able occasionally to give a dred dollars, for the spruces that grow so luxuri-page to our readers. We are conscious that our antly in the vicinity would furnish abundant material. estimate of Mr. Tappan's poetical powers is not imThe students of Williams' College, a few years partial-(and should be sorry if it were, after knowsince, erected a log building upon the top of Grey- ing him as a man and as a Christian for many years) lock, to the height of thirty feet, and upon -but we always open a volume from his hand with this elevated a steeple some thirty more, from which Christian public. Many of his hymns have been great pleasure. And such is the judgment of the thousands of tourists have enjoyed the most enchanting view in Massachusetts. One man, in less incorporated into collections for public worship, and will be sung after all now living voices are silent. than one week, could cut a path from the summit Messrs. Saxton & Kelt are publishing, in monthof Round Top to some one of the numerous roads ly numbers, in a quarto form, that lead towards the Mountain House, and such an very useful work, at three dollars a year, called The American Archione, probably, as horses could ascend. tect, comprising Original Designs of Country Resithe Merchant, the Farmer, and the Mechanic. dences, adapted to the taste and circumstances of Each number contains a House; with views, elevations, ground plan, and ornamental work, in several plates; with an estimate of the cost and And specifications of the carpenter and mason. of great service to any one who is about to build. this is so carefully and particularly done as to be He may make his contract with the builder from it, and for the few cents which a No. will cost may save hundreds of dollars. We receive this work with much pleasure. Why will not the enterprising proprietor of the Mountain House see to this, the coming season? The gratitude of thousands that yearly visit the Catskills, and more solid expressions than gratitude, will richly repay him. I might speak of our descent, and of the wild cascades, and the awful chasm of the Plattekill Clove-the wildest Clove of the Catskills-and I might say a word for the good lady who lives at the head of that Clove, and who delights to welcome the wayfaring and hungry mountain climber-but I have done my errand, and I trust that others will take heed, and learn of these attractions for themselves. W. H. E. SCRAPS.-Short Measure in England, 249; Bank of England, 250; The Bank Act, 280; The LIVING AGE is published every Saturday, by | twenty dollars, or two dollars each for separate volumes. E. LITTELL & Co., at No. 165 Tremont St., BOSTON. Any numbers may be had at 125 cents. Price 12 cents a number, or six dollars a year in advance. Remittances for any period will be thankfully received and promptly attended to. To insure regularity in mailing the work, remittances and orders should be addressed to the office of publication as above. Twenty dollars will pay for 4 copies for a year. COMPLETE SETS to the end of 1846, making eleven large volumes, are for sale, neatly bound in cloth, for AGENCIES. The publishers are desirous of making arrangements in all parts of North America, for increasing the circulation of this work and for doing this a liberal commission will be allowed to gentlemen who will interest themselves in the business. But it must be understood that in all cases payment in advance is expected. The price of the work is so low that we cannot afford to incur either risk or expense in the collection of debts. LITTELL'S LIVING AGE.-No. 183.-13 NOVEMBER, 1847. From the Christian Observer, [by T. H. Horne.] HISTORICAL NOTICES OF PSALMODY. SECTION 1.-CHURCH OF ENGLAND PSALMODY. 1. Bishop COVERDALE's Version of certain Psalms. -II. The "Old Version of the Psalms," executed by STERNHOLD, HOPKINS, and others. III. The "New Version" of TATE and BRADY. -IV. Introduction of Hymns into the Services of the Church of England.-V. Metrical Versions of the Psalms in the Welsh, Manx, Irish, Mohawk, and Muncey Languages. in order to give the "youth of England some occasion to change their foul and corrupt ballads into sweet songs and spiritual hymns of God's honor, and for their own consolation in him." The psalms thus versified by Bishop Coverdale were 2, 11, 13, 24, 45, 50, 67, 123. 127, 129, (130 of our numeration,) 133, 136, and 147. II. The "Old Version" of the Psalms.-The next attempt to versify the psalms in English was made by Thomas Sternhold, Groom of the Robes to King Henry VIII. and to King Edward VI., in whose name nineteen psalms were printed DURING the long and disastrous period emphat- by Edward Whitchurch without date, but most ically termed "the dark ages," when ignorance probably in 1549, entitled 66 Certayne Psalmes and superstition generally prevailed in the west of chosen out of the Psalter of David and drawen into Europe, the singing of the praises of God was a English Metre by Thomas Sternhold grome of ye part of divine worship from which the people were Kynges Majesties Roobes." A second edition, debarred. Not only were the words which were containing thirty-seven "Psalmes of David drawen actually sung, composed in a language unknown into English Metre by Thomas Sternhold," with to the great mass of the people; but the music seven additional psalms translated by John Hopwas so complex that no one could bear a part in it, kins, was "Imprinted at London by Edward unless they had studied it scientifically. But at Whitchurche anno Domini 1551." in 16mo..‡ the reformation from the unscriptural and anti-Four score and seven Psalmes of David in Engscriptural errors and practices of popery in the sixteenth century, the singing of psalms and hymns was revived and revindicated to the people, among the means of grace of which Christendom had been deprived by papal tyranny and usurpation: and metrical translations of the Book of Psalms were composed and printed in the several vernacular languages of Europe. I. Bishop CoVERDALE'S Version of certain Psalms. The earliest known attempt at rendering the Psalms into English verse, for the purpose of being sung,* is that of the venerable confessor for the gospel, Myles Coverdale, Bishop of Exeter during the reign of King Edward VI.; whose "Goostly Psalmes and Spirituall Songes drawen out of the Holy Scripture," were published, probably in 1538 and certainly before 1539; since they are inserted in a catalogue of books forbidden to be read, which is annexed to injunctions issued by Henry VIII. in 1539. The first verse of each psalm is accompanied by musical notes, which evidently show that they were designed to be sung and Coverdale states in his preface, that he had "set out certain comfortable songs grounded on God's word, and taken some out of the Holy Scripture, specially out of the psalms of David," *Mr. Wilmot Marsh has printed metrical versions of some ecclesiastical hymns, and of the twenty-third, hundredth, and hundred and twenty-third psalms, in pp. 510 of "Biblical Versions of Devout Hymns," (London, 1945, 8vo.,) which were executed in the thirteeth and fourteenth centuries. These versions do not appear to have been made with the design of being sung; but they are valuable, as being specimens of the English language in those centuries. + Remains of Myles Coverdale, Bishop of Exeter, p. 533.-(Parker Society's Edition. Cambridge. 1846. 8vo.) VOL. XV. 19 OLXXXIII. LIVING AGE. lish metre by Thomas Sternhold and others," were published without date, but most probably in 1561 :§ and in 1563 appeared the first complete edition of this version, entitled "The VVhole Boke of Psalmes collected into English Metre by Thomas Sternhold, J. Hopkins, and others: conferred with the Ebrue, with apt Notes to synge them withall. Faithfully perused and alowed according to the order appointed in the Queenes Maiesties Injunctions. Imprinted at London by Iohn Day dwelling over Aldersgate benethe faint. Martins. Cum gratia et privilegio Regie Majestatis, per Septennium an. 1563." 4to.|| Of the complete version of the hundred and fifty psalms thus published, on weighing the best authorities, we may assign forty-three to Thomas Sternhold; fifty-seven to John Hopkins; twentyfive to Thomas Norton, barrister-at-law, and a coadjutor of Lord Buckhurst in the composition of the tragedy of "Gorboduc;" twelve to William Whittyngham, afterwards Dean of Durham; and as many by William Kethe,¶ both of whom were exiles during the Marian persecution; one by John Ibid., vol. iii., p. 498. A Bibliographical Description of these thirty-seven Psalms is given in Sir S. E. Brydges' Censura Literaria. Vol. x., pp. 4-6. § Censura Literaria. Vol. x., pp. 6-10. || Bibles, Testaments, Psalms, and other books of Holy Scripture in English, in the collection of Lea Wilson, Esq., p. 231. (London. 1845.) Kethe is said to have translated twenty-five psalms, of which only twelve were retained by Hopkins in the edition of 1563, which is the basis of all subsequent editions. Pullain, Archdeacon of Colchester,* and one (the | they sung, ALL in common, a psalm in metre, as it second or supplementary version of the hundred seems now was frequently done, the custom having and twenty-fifth psalm) by Robert Wisdom. been brought from abroad by the exiles."* As it was no difficult task to prevail upon the The following extract of a letter from Dr. people of England to prefer plain psalmody, in Jewel, Bishop of Salisbury, to Peter Martyr, which they could easily join, to that intricate dated March 5th, 1560, confirms the fact related music which was too refined and scientific for by Strype-"Religion is now somewhat more their taste and comprehension, congregational sing-established than it was. The people are everying gradually found its way into parish churches, although it was not recognized in the rubrics of the editions of the Book of Common Prayer; probably in consequence of the permission given by the statute 2 and 3 Edw. VI., c. i., § 7, "to use openly any psalm or prayer taken out of the Bible, at any due time, not letting or omitting thereby the serwice, or any part thereof." where exceedingly inclined to the better part. The practice of joining in church music has very much conduced to this. For as soon as they had once commenced singing in public, in only one little church in London, † immediately not only the churches in the neighborhood, but even the towns far distant, began to vie with each other in the same practice. You may now sometimes see at Paul's Cross, after the service, six thousand persons old and young of both sexes, ALL singing together and praising God."‡ On the accession of Queen Elizabeth to the throne in 1558, she found it politic to connive at, if not to permit, the practice of psalmody. One of her injunctions to the clergy, issued in 1559, The version of the psalms by Sternhold and his (which was primarily designed "for the encour-associates, which had thus been introduced by the agement and continuance of the use of singing" royal allowance, was further sanctioned by the [cathedral music] . . . "in divers collegiat as convocation of the clergy of the Church of Engwell as some parish churches" which had endow-land, at their second session, held Jan. 13, 1562–63, ments "for the maintenance of men and children in the Cathedral of St. Paul, before Archbishop for singing in the church,") contains a saving Grindal and other bishops; when the hymn, clause in favor of "an hymn or such like song "Veni Creator," and the psalm "Beatus Vir," . . in the beginning or in the end of common were sung. As no prose translation of that hymn prayer." Although this injunction had no legal is extant in English, the hymn sung in that conforce after the death of Queen Elizabeth, not hav-vocation must have been the metrical version of it, ing been renewed by any subsequent sovereign, it which is found in the "Form of ordering Priests has generally been considered as a concession in in the first and second liturgies of King Edward favor of metrical psalmody. It is, however, cer- VI."|| And the psalm must have been the first tain, that metrical psalmody was introduced into metrical psalm in Sternhold's version, to which the the Church of England, either by permission or words "Beatus Vir" are prefixed in the Latin Vulby tacit connivance; since the accurate ecclesias-gate; as they had long before been prefixed to the tical historian, Strype, states that in the month of same psalm in the old prose English translation September, 1559, "began the new morning prayer which is still retained in the Book of Common at St. Antholin's, London, the bell beginning to Prayer. ring at five; when a psalm was sung after the Geneva fashion, ALL the congregation, men, women, and boys singing together."‡ "1559-60. March the 3d.-Grindal, the new Bishop of London, preached at St. Paul's Cross in his rochet and chimere; the mayor and aldermen present, and a great auditory. And after sermon a psalm was sung, (which was the common practice of the reformed churches abroad,) wherein the people also joined their voices."§ Although several metrical versions of the Psalms were published with the royal license in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the "Old Ver* Ibid. Vol. i., p. 200. + St. Antholin's, Watling Street.-T. H. H. of several English Bishops, and others, with some of the "The Zurich Letters, comprising the correspondence Helvetian Reformers." p. 71.-(Parker Society's Ed. Cambridge, 1942. 8vo.) § "Decantata fuit per ministros ecclesiæ Letania in sermone vulgari (juxta morem et ritum in libro nuncupato, The Book of Common Prayer, &c., descriptum :) 1559-60. March the 17th.-Mr. Veron, a ejusdem ecclesiæ solemniter decantato, magister Wilhel quâ finita, ac Hymno Veni Creator, &c., per ministros Frenchman by birth, preached at St. Paul's Cross, mus Daye S. T. B. &c., suggestum in medio chori positum before the mayor and aldermen : and after sermon,nusto, ad patres et clerum præsentes habuit. Finità vero ingressus fuit, ac ibidem concionem Latinam, stilo ve*Pullain "supplied two psalms for some of the earlier concione, ac Psalmo primo (Beatus Vir, &c.) in sermone impressions; but only one (the hundred and forty-eighth) vulgari decantato, celebrata fuit sacra communio." Exhas been suffered to stand in the general collection."-tract from the Acts of the Convocation held in 1562, Drake's Harp of Judah, vol. i., pp. xiii. xiv. "Nevertheless, for the comforting of such as delight in musick, it may be permitted, that in the beginning or at the end of common prayer, either at morning or evening, there may be sung a hymn, or such like song, to the praise of Almighty God, in the best melody and musick that may be devised, having respect that the sentence of the hymn may be understood and perceived."-Bp. Sparrow's Collection of Articles, Injunctions, &c., p. 75. London, 1671. 4to. + Strype's Annals of the Reformation. Vol. i., p. 134. London, 1725. § Ibid. Vol. i., p. 198. printed in the Appendix to [Mr., afterwards Bishop, Gibson's] "Synodus Anglicana; or, the Constitution and Proceedings of an English Convocation, pp. 194, 195." (London, 1702. 8vo.) That appendix, among other documents, contains the proceedings of the Convocation held in 1562, copied from the original manuscript registers. "The Two Liturgies, A. D. 1549, and A. D. 1552, with other documents set forth by authority in the reign of King Edward VI." pp. 172-174, and 342, 343-(Parker Society's Edition. Cambridge, 1844. 8vo.) The metrical versions referred to are these:-1. Of Archbishop Parker, published anonymously about the sion" continued to be used in churches until after the restoration; notwithstanding the efforts made during the rebellion, to recommend the introduction and adoption of the metrical versions published by William Barton and Francis Rous; and also of Barton's revision of Rous' version made under the authority of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. (See a notice of these versions in p. 296, infra.) The best proof, indeed, of the popularity of the "Old Version" among the English nation, is to be found in the fact, that upwards of thirty editions of it are known to have been published between the years 1601 and 1650.* 66 "in a little time it was communicated, and as § III. The "NEW VERSION" of the Psalms.The "Old Version" of the Psalms fell gradually into disuse after the publication of "A New Version of the Psalms of David, fitted to the Tunes used in Churches. By Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady. London, 1696," in duodecimo. It was preceded by a specimen," printed for the Company of Stationers" in 1695, also in duodecimo, and entitled An Essay of a New Version of the Psalms of David, consisting of the first Twenty; fitted to the Tunes used in Churches." This new version" was introduced to the public under the sanction of an order in privy council, by King One of the most strenuous antagonists of the William III., dated December 3, 1696; which" New Version of the Psalms of David" was Dr. has been printed at length in all succeeding edi- William Beveridge, afterwards Bishop of St. tions, though it has had no legal authority whatever since his decease; and by which his majesty ordered, “that the said new version of the psalms into English metre be, and the same is hereby allowed and permitted to be, used in all such churches, chapels, and congregations, as shall think fit to receive the same." Although a "second edition, corrected," was printed in 1698, the New Version encountered much severe and (it must now be admitted) not unmerited animadversion: in consequence of which there was published in the same year, "A Breif [brief] and Full Account of Mr. Tate and Mr. Brady's New Version of the Psalms. By a True Son of the Church of England." This (now very rare) tract contains an account of the origin and progress of their work, from which the following particulars are selected. Though the design of undertaking a new version originated with Messieurs Tate and Brady, who proposed it "between themselves," Asaph, whose "Defence of the Book of Psalms. collected into English Metre by Thomas Sternhold. John Hopkins, and others, with critical observations on the late New Version compared with th Old," appears from internal evidence to have bee: written between the years 1698 and 1700: thoug! it was not published until the year 1710, nearly if not quite, three years after Bishop Beveridge decease.** This tract, however, seems to have produced but little permanent effect, as the "Nev. Version" in no long time was generally adopter in consequence of the royal and episcopal sanctions which it had received. "The pervading defect" of this version "ju that of tameness and monotony of execution, though there are a few beautiful exceptions to this censure;" and the fifteenth psalm, the firs: four verses of the twenty-third, the twenty-fourth, the thirty-fourth, ninety-third, hundredth, (perhaps,) hundred and first, hundred and eight psalms, verses 69, 72, 168-175 of the hundred and nineteenth psalm, the hundred and twenty*"Breif and Full Account," &c., p. 4. + Ibid., p. 6. + Ibid., p. 7. § Ibid., p. 9. Bishop Compton's recommendation of the New Version is dated May 23rd, 1698, in which he thus expresse l himself:-"I find it a work done with so much judgment and ingenuity, that I am persuaded it may take off that unhappy objection that has hitherto lain against the singing psalms, and dispose that part of divine service to much more devotion. And I do heartily recommend the use of this version to all my brethren within my diocese."-Extract from Bishop Compton's Recommendation prefixed to the folio edition of the New Version, printed at the Pitt Press of the University of Cambridge in 1843, T"Breif and Full Account," &c., p. 13. *Mr. Lea Wilson has enumerated, and concisely **Bishop Beveridge's "Defence "of the Old Version is described in chronological order, more than thirty edí-printed in the first volume of his collected works. pp. tions, printed between 1601 and 1650, in his catalogue of 611-652. London, 1824. 8vo. Bibles, Testaments, &c., in his possession. xxix. year 1560-2. Of Henry Dod, 1603;-3. Of George Wither, 1623;-4. Of King James I., 1631 ;-and 5. Of George Sandys, 1636. Interesting critical notices of these versions are given by Dr. Drake, in the Introduction to his elegant selection of Versions of the Book of Psalms, entitled "The Harp of Judah, or the Songs of Sion. including the choicest Paraphrases, Imitations, and Poetical Illustrations of the Psalms of David," (London, 1837, 2 vols. 8vo ;) and also by Mr. Holland, in his valuable and accurate work, entitled "The Psalmists of Britain. Records, biographical and literary, of upwards of one hundred and fifty authors, who have rendered the whole or parts of the Book of Psalms into English Verse, with specimens of the different versions." (London, 1843. 2 vols. 8vo.) tt Dr. Drake's Harp of Judah. Vol. i., p. fifth, hundred and thirty-ninth, (perhaps,) and the | it, was legally in force only during his reign, the hundred and fiftieth psalms, may be indicated as subsequent continued use of it, to the present favorable specimens, combining accuracy of ren- time, may be accounted for by the two following dering with the true spirit of sacred poetry.* facts, viz. : In no long time after the publication of the "New Version of the Psalms," it was found necessary to have a supplement,"containing the usual Hymns, Creed, Lord's Prayer, &c., with the Church Tunes." Accordingly, Messrs. Tate and Brady in 1703 petitioned Queen Anne for "her majesty's allowance of the said Supplement;" whereupon "her majesty, taking the same into her royal consideration," on the 30th of July, 1703, was "pleased to order in council that the said supplement to the said New Version of the Psalms be, and the same is hereby allowed and permitted to be, used in all such churches, chapels, and congregations as shall think fit to receive the same."t The "Supplement" thus "allowed and permitted," was published accordingly; and a selection of hymns taken from it has received the highest ecclesiastical sanction; having been published for considerably more than a century by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, of whose committees all the English bishops are ex officio members.‡ 1. The New Version is intelligible throughout. Some portions of it (as already stated) are executed with great felicity, though others are tame, and much inferior to parts of the "Old Version" executed by Sternhold, Hopkins, and others: the style of which last has now become so obsolete, as to be no longer tolerated as a whole. every one who candidly examines that version will allow that its "diction has not unfrequently a liquid sweetness and generally a force and grandeur, the effect of which is much increased by its simplicity.' Yet 2. Almost ever since its first publication, the New Version has been (as indeed it still is) bound up with nearly every edition of the Book of Common Prayer, in consequence of its having become the property of the Stationers' Company, by whom until of late years-it has almost exclusively been published. By a very long deed, dated December 3d, 1696, (a copious abstract of which is printed in the Gentleman's Magazine for the year 1822,)† Messrs. Tate and Brady "entered into partnership with the Stationers' Company for printing the New Version of the Psalms; the copyright being The "New Version" of Tate and Brady is now used in most of the churches in England and in Ireland, as well as in the chapels of the Episcopal' divided into three great allotments of eighty communion in Scotland, and in the British colonies. It has also been adopted by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. As the order in council of King William III., recommending the use of the "New Version" by such congregations as should think fit to receive shares each,' and the articles of agreement giving the option of the purchase to one of the three parties." The property has long been in the hands of the Stationers' Company.‡ IV. Modern Introduction of HYMNS into the Church of England.-Highly valuable as the compositions of the sweet Psalmist of Israel confessedly * Although the version of Tate and Brady, being de- are, as supplying the most considerable as well as signed for the use of members of the Church of England, most important materials for sacred and ecclesias was not adopted by the dissenters of that day, it may gratify the reader to peruse the following incidental testi-tical music, and answering purposes which no mony to its value by the learned and pious Matthew Henry. In a postscript to the preface of the third edition uninspired compositions can answer; yet it has of his "Family Hymns gathered mostly out of the Trans-been long and generally acknowledged that, to a lations of David's Psalms," [by Bishop King, Mr. Barton, Christian congregation, something is yet wanting Mr. Smith, Dr. Ford, Dr. John Patrick, and Mr. Baxter, in this department of public worship, which (as he says: "I thought it might be acceptable to make large additions, in which I must own myself to have bor- the present Bishop of Durham◊ has truly observed) rowed some lines from the excellent version of the psalms "in addition to the holy effusions of the Old Tesdone by Mr. Tate, which was not published when this collection was first made."-M. Henry's Miscellaneous tament, may convey that clearer view of God's Works, p. 706. London, 1830. 8vo. dispensations, those astonishing hopes and consol+ Bp. Mant's "History of the Church of Ireland from the revolution to the union of the Churches of England ing promises, which are supplied by the inspired and Ireland in 1801," pp. 260, 261; where the whole of penmen of the New. For, although, in sublime the above cited order in council is printed from the min-descriptions of the Almighty, in earnestness of ute-books of the Privy Council. The "Hymns taken from the Supplement to Tate and Brady's Psalms," form No. 43 of the Religious Tracts dispersed by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. § In 1831 was published at Barbados in 18mo, "A Selection of Psalms and Hymns from the Authorized Metrical Versions of the Psalms of David, and from the Hymns annexed to the Book of Common Prayer, with appropriate Tunes. Recommended [it is presumed by the Rt. Rev. Dr. W. H. Coleridge, at that time Bishop of Barbados] for the use of the Cathedral and other churches and chapels in the Diocese of Barbados and the Leeward Islands." Among the hymns in this selection, are Bishop Ken's well-known evening hymn, and the beautiful and devotional hymn on the Lord's Supper"My God! and is thy table spread, &c.," composed by the learned and pious Dr. Doddridge. 6 supplication, and in warmth of adoration, the royal psalmist must ever stand unrivalled; yet his knowledge of divine things was necessarily incomplete, because the day-spring' had not yet dawned from on high. (Luke i. 78.) Even under the influence of prophetic inspiration, David saw but as through a glass, darkly, the saving truths of *Rev. R. Kennedy's Thoughts on the Music and Words of Psalmody, p. 65. + Gent. Mag. Vol. xcii. Part ii., p. 414. Holland's Psalmists of Britain. Vol. ii., p. 104. § The Rt. Rev. Dr. Maltby, pp. ix. x. of the Preface to a Collection of Psalms and Hymns, published while Dr. M. was vicar of Buckden. |