Rhymed psalter
Encyclopedia
Rhymed psalters are translations of the Psalms
from Hebrew or Latin
into poetry in some other language. Rhymed psalters include metrical psalter
s designed for singing, but are not limited to that use.
into French. These were made in England for the French-speaking Anglo-Normans.
Following the Protestant Reformation
rhymed metrical psalters like the Dutch Souterliedekens
came into popular use for congregational singing. While singing was not the original purpose of rhymed psalters, these psalters make up the bulk of the existing rhymed versions of Bible passages. The Book of Proverbs
is one of the few other Biblical books having verse translations.
. Another rhyming psalter of much the same style is assigned epigraphically to the time of Edward II of England
. The Surtees Psalter in rhymed Middle English dates from 1250 to 1300.
Thomas Brampton translated the Seven Penitential Psalms from the Vulgate into rhyming verse in 1414. These and other pre-Reformation rhyming psalters demonstrate the popular use of the vernacular Scripture in England, contradicting the belief that the singing of psalms in English began only with the Reformation. While Sir Thomas Wyat (died 1521) is said to have done the whole psalter, we have only Certayne Psalmes chosen out of the Psalter of David, commonly called the VII Penitential Psalmes, Drawen into English metre. Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
(d. 1547) translated Psalms 55, 73, and 88 into English verse.
Miles Coverdale (died 1567) translated several psalms in Goastly psalmes and spirituall songs drawen out of the Holy Scripture. The old Version of the Anglican Church, printed at the end of the Prayer Book (1562), contains thirty-seven rhyming psalms translated by Thomas Sternhold
, fifty-eight by John Hopkins, twenty-eight by Thomas Norton
, and the remainder by Robert Wisdom
(Ps. 125), William Whittingham
(Ps. 119 of 700 lines) and others. Sternhold's psalms had been previously published in 1549. Also in 1549, Robert Crowley
translated the entire psalter in verse.
The Seven Penitential Psalms were frequently translated. In 1583 William Hunnis
entitled his translation "Seven Sobs of a Sorrowful Soul for Sinne". During the reign of Edward VI, Sir Thomas Smith translated ninety-two of the psalms into English verse while imprisoned in the Tower of London
. A chaplain to Queen Mary I of England
, calling himself the "symple and unlearned Syr William Forrest, preeiste", did a poetic version of fifty psalms in 1551. Matthew Parker
, later Archbishop of Canterbury
, completed a metrical psalter in 1557. The Scotch had their Psalmes buickes from 1564. One of the most renowned of Scotch versifiers of the Psalms was Robert Pont (1575). Zachary Boyd, another Scotsman, published the Psalms in verse early in the seventeenth century.
The complete rhyming psalter by Sir Philip Sidney (d. 1586) and his sister, Countess of Pembroke
, is notable for the variety of its versification: it employs almost all of the varieties of lyric metres typically used in its time. However, it was not published until 1823.
Francis Bacon
's poetic paraphrases of several psalms are distinctive because of his stately and elegant style. Richard Verstegan, a Catholic, published a rhyming version of the Seven Penitential Psalms (1601). In 1636, George Sandys
published a volume containing a metrical version of other parts of the Bible together with "a Paraphrase upon the Psalmes of David, set to new Tunes for Private Devotion, and a Thorow Base for Voice and Instruments".
(1540). Some Italian rhymed versions of the Bible are:
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
from Hebrew or Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
into poetry in some other language. Rhymed psalters include metrical psalter
Metrical psalter
A metrical psalter is a kind of Bible translation: a book containing a metrical translation of all or part of the Book of Psalms in vernacular poetry, meant to be sung as hymns in a church. Some metrical psalters include melodies or even harmonizations...
s designed for singing, but are not limited to that use.
Origins
The origins of the rhymed psalter lie in twelfth-century translations from the Latin VulgateVulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
into French. These were made in England for the French-speaking Anglo-Normans.
Following the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
rhymed metrical psalters like the Dutch Souterliedekens
Souterliedekens
The Souterliedekens is a Dutch metrical psalter, published in 1540 in Antwerp, and which remained very popular throughout the century. The metrical rhyming psalms were - probably - arranged by a Utrecht nobleman: Willem van Zuylen van Nijevelt . For the melodies he used folksongs from the Low...
came into popular use for congregational singing. While singing was not the original purpose of rhymed psalters, these psalters make up the bulk of the existing rhymed versions of Bible passages. The Book of Proverbs
Book of Proverbs
The Book of Proverbs , commonly referred to simply as Proverbs, is a book of the Hebrew Bible.The original Hebrew title of the book of Proverbs is "Míshlê Shlomoh" . When translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different forms. In the Greek Septuagint the title became "paroimai paroimiae"...
is one of the few other Biblical books having verse translations.
History of English rhymed psalters
The oldest English rhymed psalter is a translation of the Vulgate psalms, generally dated to the reign of Henry II of EnglandHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. Another rhyming psalter of much the same style is assigned epigraphically to the time of Edward II of England
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
. The Surtees Psalter in rhymed Middle English dates from 1250 to 1300.
Thomas Brampton translated the Seven Penitential Psalms from the Vulgate into rhyming verse in 1414. These and other pre-Reformation rhyming psalters demonstrate the popular use of the vernacular Scripture in England, contradicting the belief that the singing of psalms in English began only with the Reformation. While Sir Thomas Wyat (died 1521) is said to have done the whole psalter, we have only Certayne Psalmes chosen out of the Psalter of David, commonly called the VII Penitential Psalmes, Drawen into English metre. Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey
Henry Howard, KG, , known as The Earl of Surrey although he never was a peer, was an English aristocrat, and one of the founders of English Renaissance poetry.-Life:...
(d. 1547) translated Psalms 55, 73, and 88 into English verse.
Miles Coverdale (died 1567) translated several psalms in Goastly psalmes and spirituall songs drawen out of the Holy Scripture. The old Version of the Anglican Church, printed at the end of the Prayer Book (1562), contains thirty-seven rhyming psalms translated by Thomas Sternhold
Thomas Sternhold
Thomas Sternhold was an English courtier and the principal author of the first English metrical version of the Psalms, originally attached to the Prayer-Book as augmented by John Hopkins.-Life:...
, fifty-eight by John Hopkins, twenty-eight by Thomas Norton
Thomas Norton
Thomas Norton was an English lawyer, politician, writer of verse — but not, as has been claimed, the chief interrogator of Queen Elizabeth I.-Official career:...
, and the remainder by Robert Wisdom
Robert Wisdom
Robert Wisdom is an American actor. He is a graduate of Columbia University.-Biography:Wisdom was born in Washington, D.C. to Jamaican parents. He appeared in four of the five seasons of HBO program The Wire as Howard "Bunny" Colvin...
(Ps. 125), William Whittingham
William Whittingham
William Whittingham was an English Biblical scholar and religious reformer. Educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, he became a zealous Protestant; as such he found it prudent to flee to France when Mary I ascended the throne of England....
(Ps. 119 of 700 lines) and others. Sternhold's psalms had been previously published in 1549. Also in 1549, Robert Crowley
Robert Crowley
Robert Crowley may refer to:*Robert Crowley , English Protestant printer, editor, chronicler, social critic, poet, polemicist, and clergyman...
translated the entire psalter in verse.
The Seven Penitential Psalms were frequently translated. In 1583 William Hunnis
William Hunnis
William Hunnis was an English Protestant poet, dramatist, and composer.Hunnis was a gentleman of the Chapel Royal to Edward VI, but was imprisoned during the reign of Mary for plotting against her regime and narrowly escaped execution...
entitled his translation "Seven Sobs of a Sorrowful Soul for Sinne". During the reign of Edward VI, Sir Thomas Smith translated ninety-two of the psalms into English verse while imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. A chaplain to Queen Mary I of England
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
, calling himself the "symple and unlearned Syr William Forrest, preeiste", did a poetic version of fifty psalms in 1551. Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until his death in 1575. He was also an influential theologian and arguably the co-founder of Anglican theological thought....
, later Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, completed a metrical psalter in 1557. The Scotch had their Psalmes buickes from 1564. One of the most renowned of Scotch versifiers of the Psalms was Robert Pont (1575). Zachary Boyd, another Scotsman, published the Psalms in verse early in the seventeenth century.
The complete rhyming psalter by Sir Philip Sidney (d. 1586) and his sister, Countess of Pembroke
Countess of Pembroke
Countess of Pembroke is a title that has been borne by several women throughout history, including:* Margaret of England , wife of John Hastings, 2nd Earl of Pembroke; daughter of King Edward III and Philippa of Hainault....
, is notable for the variety of its versification: it employs almost all of the varieties of lyric metres typically used in its time. However, it was not published until 1823.
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
's poetic paraphrases of several psalms are distinctive because of his stately and elegant style. Richard Verstegan, a Catholic, published a rhyming version of the Seven Penitential Psalms (1601). In 1636, George Sandys
George Sandys
George Sandys was an English traveller, colonist and poet.-Life:He was born in Bishopsthorpe, the seventh and youngest son of Edwin Sandys, archbishop of York. He studied at St Mary Hall, Oxford, but took no degree...
published a volume containing a metrical version of other parts of the Bible together with "a Paraphrase upon the Psalmes of David, set to new Tunes for Private Devotion, and a Thorow Base for Voice and Instruments".
Psalm books
The Psalm Books of the various Protestant churches are mostly rhyming versions. They include:- New England Psalm Book (Boston, 1773);
- Psalm Book of the Reformed Dutch Church in North America (New York, 1792);
- The Bay Psalm Book (Cambridge, 1640).
- Brady and Tate (poet laureate), "New Version of the Psalms of DavidTate and BradyTate and Brady refers to the collaboration of Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady, which produced one famous work, New Version of the Psalms of David . This work was a metrical version of the Psalms, and largely ousted the old version of T. Sternhold and J. Hopkins...
" (Boston, 1696); - James Merrick, "The Psalms in English Verse" (Reading, England, 1765);
- I. Watts, "The Psalms of David" (27th ed., Boston, 1771);
- J. T. Barrett, "A Course of Psalms" (Lambeth, 1825);
- Abraham Coles, "A New Rendering of the Hebrew Psalms into English Verse" (New York, 1885);
- David S. Wrangham, "Lyra Regis" (Leeds, 1885); Arthur Trevor Jebb "A Book of Psalms" (London, 1898).
Other rhymed passages
Other parts of Holy Writ done into rhyming English verse are:- Christopher Tye's "The Acts of the Apostles translated into English Metre" (1553);
- Zachary Boyd's "St. Matthew" (early seventeenth cent.);
- Thomas Prince's "Canticles, parts of Isaias and Revelations" in New England Psalm Book (1758);
- Henry Ainswort, "Solomon's Song of Songs" (1642);
- John Mason Good's "Song of Songs" (London, 1803);
- C. C. Price's "Acts of the Apostles" (New York, 1845).
Other languages
The French have had rhyming psalters since the "Sainctes Chansonettes en Rime Française" of Clement MarotClément Marot
Clément Marot was a French poet of the Renaissance period.-Youth:Marot was born at Cahors, the capital of the province of Quercy, some time during the winter of 1496-1497. His father, Jean Marot , whose more correct name appears to have been des Mares, Marais or Marets, was a Norman from the Caen...
(1540). Some Italian rhymed versions of the Bible are:
- Abbate Francesco Rezzano, "II Libro di Giobbe" (Nice, 1781);
- Stefano Egidio Petroni, "Proverbi di Salomone" (London, 1815);
- Abbate Pietro Rossi, "Lamentazioni di Geremia, i Sette Salmi Penitenziali e il Cantico di Mose" (Nizza, 1781);
- Evasio Leone, "II Cantico de' Cantici" (Venice, 1793);
- Francesco Campana, "Libro di Giuditta" (Nizza, 1782).