The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. In 1640 they produced 1700 copies of the first book printed in the colonies, the bay psalm book. He said as much himself scores of times throughout his life. The bay psalm book is a religious and cultural manifesto of the puritan fathers and a towering icon of the founding of the united states. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. The new psalm book was adopted at once by nearly every congregation in the colony of massachusetts bay, and for that reason it came to be known as the bay psalm book. The bay psalm book, printed in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye in 1640, was the first book printed by the newly established cambridge press. Here, too, is strong theology not, however, any merely theoretic.
Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. Sep 04, 2017 after publishing the bay psalm book, elizabeth and daye published a 1641 almanac, a catechism prayer, and a set of massachusetts laws. Ever in the interest of preserving history salem witch museum senior staff received board approval to bid on the previously unknown seventh edition mass bay psalm book signed by elizabeth corwin, wife of salem witch trials judge jonathan corwin. Sidlow baxters book explore the book, we quote the following. This copy of the bay psalm book is part of a collection of ancient books located in the us library of congress in washington dc. Four years later, in 1640, they published the first book in north america, the bay psalm book. Elsewhere, the puritan colonists of the massachusetts bay.
The 1700 copies of the first edition provided puritans with a plain and familiar translation designed to represent more faithfully the hebrew psalms than did the version used by the. Book printed material the vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Massachusetts bay colony, one of the original english settlements in presentday massachusetts, settled in 1630 by a group of about 1,000 puritan refugees from england under gov. Title from the bay psalm book, a facsim, reprint of the first ed. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first english settlers landed at plymouth rock. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Beginning of the american story the bay psalm book youtube. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. The bay psalm book and colonial puritanism amy morris bio while hybridity has been the focus of much recent investigation into colonial culture, for the seventeenthcentury religious migrants to massachusetts bay, purity was the goal.
In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. The book was used by nearly all the congregations in the colony of massachusetts bay hence the name of the bay psalm book. Wilberforce eames in 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a group of local religious leadersincluding, it is thought, richard mather, john cotton, and richard eliotset about. Mather was born in lowton in the parish of winwick, lancashire, england, of a family which was in reduced. If youve ever dug into the puritans in any manner, youve come across something called the bay psalm book. Nov 27, 20 the bay psalm book was published in 1640, more than a century and a half after the first gutenberg bibles and 20 years after the pilgrims had landed at plymouth. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america.
The decision to print a book of psalms metered for singing may seem an odd choice as the first book to be printed by the settlers of massachusetts bay, but this modest book served the larger purpose of the colonyto live within the reformed church. The printing press quickly became central to political and religious expression in the new world. For the riches of true knowledge and heavenly wisdom, are here set open for us, to take. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. The bay psalm book played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective. A new poetical translation of the psalms, intended to express the hebrew original, was made by the leading scholars and.
In most of the churches in the massachusetts bay colony, the bay psalm book replaced the earlier psalm books the puritans had brought with them from englandhence the popular name bay psalm book. Its a translation of the old testament book of psalms, valuable for its rarity and because it was printed in 1640, the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell. Bay psalm book high resolution scan from first printed in 1640 cambridge, massachusetts by stephen day and jose antonio, garcia r. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective of their unique brand of calvinism and.
He studied at oxford, began preaching, and was ordained in 1620. The psalms of david the argument this book of psalms is set forth unto us by the holy ghost, to be esteemed as a most precious treasure, wherein all things are contained that appertain to true felicity, as well in this life present as in the life to come. The book of psalms is the poetry of downright reality. Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing scripture psalmes in the churches of god. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the first book printed on angloamerican soil.
The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. Titlepage of a 1633 edition of thomas ravenscrofts psalter, the tunes of which are referenced by the translators of the bay psalm book. This is the auction catalogue from 1947the last time a bay psalm book was seen at auction. The new england puritans and the name of god john h. Bookprinted material the vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. After publishing the bay psalm book, elizabeth and daye published a 1641 almanac, a catechism prayer, and a set of massachusetts laws. In 1629 the massachusetts bay company had obtained from king charles i a charter empowering the company to trade and. Today, only eleven copies are still in existence and fetch as much as fourteen million dollars at auction, making it also the most expensive book in the world. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity.
It holds the distinction of being the first book printed in america colonial america and has a bit of an interesting story, including being the highest selling book ever at auction. Since william longley was somewhat literate he had been a selectman, perhaps he managed to devote time to read to his offspring and encourage them in the basics of 5 for a contemporary account of the groton assault, see william hubbard. The pierpont morgan library, new york in the case of six psalms51, 85, 100, 117, 3, 8the massachusetts bay translators provided versions in both long and common meters, introducing the alternative. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective of their unique brand of calvinism and more literal than the most popular psalter. He was father to increase mather and grandfather to cotton mather, both celebrated boston divines.
Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. A revised and enlarged edition, under the title of the psalms hymns and spiritual songs of the old and. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. Its early editions are of course, choice item osf americana for. It was the first book printed in british north america.
The congregationalist puritans who emigrated to massachusetts bay in search of religious freedom quickly set about to translate and produce a version of the book of psalms that was a closer paraphrase of. For as he put the matter briefly in his book, religious affections 1746, the gospel of the blessed god dont go. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived for instance, old 100th. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The dayes printed a broadside and an almanac in their first year. The bay psalm book and harvard hymnody1 henry wilder foote belmont, massachusetts the bay psalm book whic, h was printed her ine cambridge three hundred years ago this summer is somethin, g much more significant than a bibliographical rarit oyr a literary curiosity.
Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. The whole booke of psalmes universally known as the bay psalm book was produced in the virtual wilderness of massachusetts bay colony by the congregationalist puritans who left england in search of religious freedom. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. The reverend richard mather 1596 22 april 1669 was a puritan minister in colonial boston, massachusetts. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a revised and enlarged edition.
The origin and production of the bay psalm book may be summarized as follows. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Certainly he understates the case with regard to the bay psalm book of 1640 which uses jah only once in the entire text of the psalms. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. One of 1700 copies produced by stephen daye in 1640 using a press located in cambridge, it was the first book ever printed in north america. The psalm book, written and printed by the puritans of massachusetts bay colony in 1640, was designed to allow a whole congregation to sing psalms together in church and at home. Bay psalm book the earliest book known to have been printed in english in the british north american colonies. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book was published in 1640, more than a century and a half after the first gutenberg bibles and 20 years after the pilgrims had landed at plymouth. It was probably preceded by a small singlesheet production known as the oath of a freeman, of which no copy is extant.
The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. Compiled by john eliot, richard mather, and thomas weld, and printed by stephen day at cambridge, massachusetts in 1640, it was intended to give a more literal translation of the hebrew psalms than that of the king james version. First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america. The main thing you need to know right now about the bay psalm book is that a copy of it is up for public sale for the first time since 1947. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. Nov 27, 20 its a translation of the old testament book of psalms, valuable for its rarity and because it was printed in 1640, the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Mar 19, 2020 massachusetts bay colony, one of the original english settlements in presentday massachusetts, settled in 1630 by a group of about 1,000 puritan refugees from england under gov. As an electroniconly publication offered as a downloadable pdf, the digital bay psalm book takes advantage of digital technology to offer. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. But after elizabeths death in 1643 and dayes retirement. The puritans placed a special emphasis on reading scripture, and their commitment to literacy led to the establishment of the first printing press in english america in 1636. Concerning his translation of the name of god, ainsworth says. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge.
The bay psalm book, printed in cambridge, massachusetts, by. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press. The character of scriptureand of its best interpreters. Apr 12, 20 according to reports, the bay psalm book was printed by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony, hence its title, 20 years after the pilgrims landed at plymouth rock. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. In recent years, a new generation of scholars has returned to the book, seeing it from fresh perspectivesas a social document, for example, and as a physical artifact of early american life in the massachusetts bay area. The digital bay psalm book gives scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike a rich and intimate experience of the book. The crazy story behind the first book published in the.
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