" in others perchance they cannot." Many circumstances tended to prevent its performance in every church, till they received their version, which they did on the same principle that they received their forms of discipline, &c. from their friends at Geneva. We do not mean to say, that, even before this, any unnecessary neglect of this portion of worship was connived at; for, in the same work, they earnestly exhorted "men, women, and children-to exercise themselves in psalmes; that when the kirk doth convene and sing, they may be the more able together, with common hearts and voyces, to praise God." We should suppose that the Assembly had come to the resolution of adopting the English version in 1562, though it might not be generally used till two years after, else they would never, that year, have granted a loan to the printer, of 200 pounds, to help him " in printing of the Psalms." Before proceeding further, we think it advisable to give the following "Reasons," &c. entire. They have never yet been printed; and they contain nearly all the information now to be obtained on this subject. The occasion of their being drawn up, was the attempt, first made in 1632, to have this version superseded by that made by King James. Though rather long, it contains much curious matter, not generally known.

"The Psalmes of David in meeter allowed be the generall Assemblie sould be

" In the generall assemblie holden at Stirline in februare 1569 the kirke in testi

fication of yr contentment wt the workes printit be Rot. Licprivick Did assign to him in pension fiftie pounds.

"If any person or persons had required reformation of the psalmes in whole or in pairt, that mater would have bene doune in right tyme and place animo edificandi, non tentandi, conform to the order agried vpon at Glasco April 1581 and at Perth 1596.

"If the Law of prescription, as it is respected be the civile Law the lawes of nationes and the lawes of this kingdome be a iust exception againest pleyes moved efter the expiring of threttie or fourtie yeares and if it wer extendit, as it sould be not only to private mens ryghtes, bot to publick saftie and tranquilitie, then all actiones moved or to be moved efter thrie scoire and

aught years againest the Scots Psalmes, receaved and retained Vpon so good grounds, and so profitable and confortable to christianes his maties good subjects would be judged moir then void and ineffectuall.

"If decennalis and triennalis posessio, be the Law and custom, have the nature of a perfect right, wherby thinges pertaining to the kirke, may be peacablie possest, then ys kirke sould retaine yr possession of the Psalmes, ay and while ther possession be Lawfullie declaired to be groundles and

vitious.

since the year 1564 for the reasons vnderwritten.

" The reformed kirke of Scotland, being subject to no vther kirke in the world, bot independant and frie, hes powr to interpret, and applay the word, to hir awin purgation conservation and edification.

"Be vertue of this power, the pastors of this kirke, at comand of the great counsall of this kingdome, penned certane heads of reformation which wer allowed and subscribed in Januar 1560.

" In these articles it is expreslie provided, that men vemen and childrine be exhorted to exercise ymselfes in psalmes that when the kirke convenes and singes they may be the moir able together with comoun heartes and voices to praise God.

" In the generall Assemblie convened at Edr in Decr 1562 for printing of the psalmes, the kirke lent Rot. licprivick printer tva hundreth pounds to help to buy Irons Ink and papper, and to fie craftesmen for printing.

"In the generall assemblie holden at dr in Decr 1564 it is ordained that evrie

sovern Lord and his three estates in Parliament yt all gentlemen housholders and all vyrs worth three hundreth merkis of yeirlie rent or above, and all substantious yeamen or burgesses likvayes housholders esteemed worth five hundreth pounds in lands or guids, Is behalden to have ane bible and psalme buicke, vnder the paines contained in the said act.

"Sundrie Musitians of best scill and affection for furtherance of the act of Parliament anent the instructing of the youth in Musick have set doun comoun and propper tunnes to the whole psalmes acording to the divers formes of meeter.

"Both pastors and peoplle have som psalmes or parts of psalmes be heart as may best serve for there different dispositions and cases of concience and for the changes of their externall condition.

"Both pastors and people be long custom, ar so acquanted with the psalmes and tunnes yrof; yt as the pastors are able, to direct a psalme to be sung agriable to the Doctrine to be delyvered so he that takes vp the psalme is able to sing ony tunne and the peoplle for the most pairt to follow him.

yr

"By the los of that heavenly treasure already in yr heart they wold be forder greived and preiudged in yr spirituall estate, then they could be hurt in bodi or r goods by suffering for retention of yr awin psalmes. " In Vther reformed kirkes, as ingland, france, germanie, netherlands, etc. psalmes in meeter ar not so absolutely perfite, and frie of blame that nothing can be censured in ym, and yet neyr have they nor will they reject the comlie face of yr owne psalter, for a small blott ane or mair, bot still retein what they have had in long continued and comfortable practise.

" If it sould happen (as God forbid) that our psalme bookes in meeter wt the comoun order prefixed unto ym, and the catechise following ym now printit cum priveligio regiæ majestatis wer removed, it might be justlie feared as the kirke decayed in moyane and means that the confession of faith, the order of the election of ministers, of the ecclesiastical discipline, and of excommunication, publike repentance, the visitation of the seik, buriall of the dead, the comoun prayers, the formes of the Lords supper, of baptisme and meriage, the book of fasting, Calvines catechise, sould be supprest to the great hinderances of publicke and private

vses.

" It were a shamles ingratitude to extinguishe the memorie of so many worthie men by wos cair and paines God had vouchsafed to bestow so manie benefites vpon his kirke and ane great testimonie against the pastors and professors of this age who haveing these psalmes and vther meanes hes gained so little by ym for yr comfort and edification that they are readier to quitt them then to keip them.

"In the generall assemblie holden at brunteland in maii 1601 be occasion of a certaine motion mad be som brether, con

cerning our vulgar translation of the bible,

the comoun prayers, the Psalmes in meeter, It was ordained that Mr Rot. pont sould revise the psalmes and that his labours sould be revised at the next assemblie, bot as the motion above written proceeded from personall respecte so it is to be supposed, that if that faithfull man who was both hollie and Learned had fund anie just caus of alteration, neither he to whom the mater was recomended nor the assemblie who

sould have taken compt of his diligence

would have suffred that matter to be buried in oblivion.

" If it had beine found expedient to alter these psalmes, Mongomerie and som vthers principalls of inglish poesie in ther tymes as they gave yr assayes of som psalmes yet extant: So they offered to translate the whole book freilie without any price for yr paines, ather frae the publicke state or privat mens purses.

"As the kirk refused the offer of these poets as neidles for the publick and private worship of God so it is statute and ordained in the generall assemblie holden at St

Johnston in junii 1563 and in sundrie Vyr assemblies, that no work be set forth in print, nor published in writt till sic tyme as it sall be advised and approven be the kirk, conform to the order sett Doun be the generall assemblie.

"Since it hath pleased God to raise som hoipe of Delyverence to the kirkes of vther countries so long troubled with bloodie persecution, and to stretch out the hand of his power againest supperstition and Idolatrie. Pietie and compassion would that we sould hold fast what we have and ferventlie pray to God, to vindicatt his truth from the tyrranie of Idolatrers and to Delyver his distressed people, fra the craft and crueltie of men, that praise may be given to his matie by all kirkes and persons, whom he hes blessed wt any measure of mercifull reformation.

"In respect of the premisses and vther reasons to be eiked as occasione sall require the psalmes in meeter as they have bein and ar vsed privatlie and publicklie in Scotland aucght to be retained and no wayes suppressed for any thing seen or hard as yet."

Though the date of the reception of this version is given, yet no mention to that effect is to be found in any of the existing records. We have already mentioned the time when we imagine have been fixed upon. Nor was it servilely adopted, in deference either to the churches of Geneva or of England: some alterations were deemed to be wanting, and these accordingly were made. We are left, however, to discover these changes, merely by a comparison of the earlier editions, printed in England and abroad, with those in our own country; a task neither pleasant nor satisfactory, considering the errors of the press, of frequent occurrence in the initials of the translators' names, as they stand at the head of the various Psalms. The Assembly seem to have adhered more to the version, as it appeared from the hands of the exiles at Geneva, than church. This accounts for our version as it was received by the English containing more of the Psalms which were translated by Kethe than theirs, when they, in common with others, were rejected by Hopkins. But indeed no two editions, before Hopkins's of 1562, wherever they may be printed, entirely correspond together. Kethe seems to have been an Englishman, although Strype, and Warton on his authority, call him a native of Scotland. Some of his translations (generally marked with the simple ini

We come now to notice what is mentioned in the said document, the design for the revisal of the psalmody, projected by the Assembly in 1601, when a new translation of the Bible

was also proposed. Nothing appears to have been done as to the one, and the other was, a few years afterwards, carried into effect in En England.

The

words of the register of the General Assembly are nearly to the same purpose as those already given. "Sess. ultima 16 Maij. 1601. Anent ye Translation of ye Psalmes in meeter, It is ordainit yt ye same be revisit be Mr Rot Pont, minister at St cuthbert's kirk, and his traveles to be revisit at ye nixt asslie." This design is noticed in the different histories of that period, but we prefer extracting the words of Bishop Spotswood, as being the most particular. No further notice respecting this proposal was taken in any future assembly.

from printing any thing without the licence of the Supreme Magistrate, or if it concern religion, be such as shall be appointed by the Assembly to revise. Mr Alex. Arbuthnet was apointed to revise the foresaid tractat, and report to the next Assembly."

We may further mention some of the earlier editions which we have met with, they are generally reprinted from each other, and mostly without being overburdened with accuracy; and it is curious to see an exact list

of the editions which are known, as it may

lead to the discovery of some which are not. The Psalmes of David in meeter, &c. printed at Edinburgh, by Thomas Bassandyne, 1575, 8vo: at London, by Thomas Vautroullier, 1587, 8vo: at Edinburgh, be Henrie Charteris, 1594, and again, in 1595, both in 8vo: at Dort, by Isaac Canin, at the expenses of the aires of Henrie Charteris, and Andrew Hart, in Edinburgh, 1601, Svo: at Edinburgh, by Andro Hart,

1611, and again, by the same printer, 1615, both in 8vo: at Aberdene, by Edward Raban, for David Melvill, 1633, 8vo: and at Edinburgh, by the heires of Andrew Hart, 1635, 8vo (this last edition, in one point of view, to be spoken of by-and-by, is the most valuable). These are all attached to the Confession of Faith, and are accompanied with the forms of discipline, &c. We could easily extend the note, (already we begin to think of sufficient length) with mentioning impressions of a smaller form, by Hart, his successors, Bryson, and other printers; but these, having no intrinsic value, we leave to be particularised by whoever chooses to undertake a History of the Scotish Press, for which abundant food might easily be found.

"After this a proposition was made for a new translation of the Bible, and the correcting of the Psalms in metre: his Majesty did urge it earnestly, and with many reasons did persuade the undertaking of the work, shewing the necessity and the profit of it, and what glory the performing thereof should bring to this Church: speaking of the necessity, he did mention sundry escapes in the common translation, and made it seem that he was no less conversant in the Scripture than they whose profession it was; and when he came to speak of the Psalms, did recite whole verses of the same, shewing both the faults of the metre and the discrepance from the text. It was the joy of all that were present to hear it, and bred not little admiration in the whole Assembly, who approving the motion, did recommend the translation to such of their Brethren as were most skilled in the Languages, and the revising of the Psalms particularly to Mr Robert Pont; but nothing was done in the one or the other: yet did not the King let this his intention fall to the ground, but after his happy coming to the Crown of England, set the most learned divines of that Church, a work for the Translation of the Bible; which, with great pains and the singular profit of the Church, they perfected. The revising of the Psalms he made his own labor, and, at such hours as he might spare from the publick cares, went through a number of them, &c. Bp. Spotswood's History, edition, Lond. 1677, p. 466.

When the Assembly appointed Mr Pont to this task, they no doubt had some regard to his services on the same

we are

Mr

subject at a former time. What was the cause of this project ending with its proposal, uninformed. Pont, either at his advanced age was prevented by indisposition from executing what was intended, or he had considered any material revision to be unnecessary. Of his merits as a poet (with exception of a few straggling lines in some of his works), we are left to judge merely from the Psalms which carry his initials as the translator. Of these we have already spoken, and, with the following animated lines, which form a sort of chorus to the 80th, we shall extract the 76th psalm as a specimen of his poetical talents.

"O Lord God of Armies, our Strength and our stay,

Returne and restore vs, without more delay : And let shine on vs-thy countenance cleare: So shall we be safe and shrinke for no feare.

Some curious particulars of Pont's life are to be found in Dr M'Crie's Life of Knox (vol. ii. p. 349), a work which stands not in need of our commendation, else it should be heartily given.

In Iurie land God is well knowne,
In Israel great is his name :
He chose out Salem for his owne,
His Tabernacle of great fame,
Therein to rayse: and mount Sion
To make his habitation,

And residence within the same.

There did he break the bowmen's shafts,
Their fyrie dartes so swift of flight,
Their sheilds, their swords, and all their crafts
Of weir when they were boun to fight.
More excellent and more mightie,

Art thou therefore than Mountaines hie
Of ravenous wolues, without all right.

The stout hearted were made a pray,
A sudden sleep did them confound:
And all the strong men in that fraye
Their feble hands they haue not found.
At thy rebuke, O Iacob's God,
Horses with Chariots ouertrod,

As with dead sleep were cast to ground.
Fearefull art thou, (O Lord our guyde)
Yea, thou alone and who is he
That in thy presence may abyde,
If once thine anger kindled be !
Thou makest men from heauen to heare,
The judgments just: the earth for feare
Stilled with silence then we se.

When thou, O Lord, beginst to rise
Sentence to giue as Iudge of all :
And in the earth dost enterpryse,
To ridde the humble out of thrall :
Certes, the rage of mortall men,
Shall be thy praise: the remnant then
Of their furie thou bindst withall.

Vow and performe your vowes therefore,
Vnto the Lord your God, all ye
That round about him dwell; adore
This fearfull one with offrings free.
Which may cut of at his vintage,
The breath of Princes in their rage,
To earthlie Kings fearfull is he.

The Conclusion.

To God alone of michtis most,
Be loud praise, gloir, and dignitie;
The Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost,
Three persons in Divinitie :
As ay has bene in tymes before,
Is now, and shalbe euermore,
Throu sea and land in ilk degre."

During the period while this version continued to be used in our country, many Scotish poets, besides those already mentioned, have left us so much as informs us that their attention had been directed to the cultivation of sacred poetry. Of these we cannot at present take full notice, but shall mention some of them whose labours on the Psalmody still remain. The name of King James stands first.

In his well-known volume, published in his youth, entitled, "The Essayes of a Prentise in the Divine Art of Poesie. Imprinted at Edinburgh, by Thomas Vautroullier, 1584, 4to, is a paraphrase of the civ. psalme translated out of Tremellivs. Though this rare volume has of late been rendered more accessible by the late reprint edited by the author of Childe Alarique," (by the way, why are his Majesty's Poetical Exercises of 1591 thus long of making their appearance after being promised to the world by the same excellent and accomplished Editor?) we shall give the first two stanzas, in order to compare his Majesty's youthful essay with the same passage as attempted by another eminent Scotish Poet a few years after.

"O Lord inspyre my spreit and pen to praise

Thy name, whose greatnes far surpassis all : That syne, I may thy gloir and honour blaise, Which cleithis the ouer: about the lyke a wall

The light remainis. O thow, whose charge
and call,
Made Heauens lyke courtenis for to spred
abreid,

Who bowed the waters so, as serve they shall
For cristall syilring over thy house to gleid.
Who walks vpon the wings of restles winde
Who of the clouds his chariot made, euen he,
Who in his present still the spreits doeth find,
Ay ready to fulfill ilk just decrie
Of his, whose seruants fyre and flammis

My Soule praise thou Iehouah's holie
Name,

For he is great, and of exceeding Might,
Who, cloth'd with Glorie, Maiestie, and Fame,
And couered with the garments of the light,
The azure Heauen doth like a Courtaine spred,
And in the depths his chalmer beames hath
layd.

The clouds he makes his chariot to be,
On them he wheeles the christall skies about,
And on the wings of Æolus, doth Hee
At pleasour walke; and sends his Angels out,
Swift Heraulds that doe execute his will,
His word the Heauens with firie lightnings

fill."

We are induced to give two other stanzas of this beautiful ode.