ORIGIN OF rSALM-SINGING. 
251 
of violence were still discernible upon each of them, the proof of her 
guilt appeared so strong upon her trial, that she was condemned and 
executed. To this circumstance is England indebted for that useful 
regulation, by which no corpse can be interred in the kingdom with- 
out a legal inspection. 
Origin of Psalm Singing. 
There is in “ Disraeli’s Curiosities of Literature” an amusing 
account of the origin of psalm-singing. It appears that the first book 
of psalms in verse was written by Marot,,a Frenchman, the favoured 
bard of Francis the First — that “ prince of poets,” and that “poet of 
princes,” as he was quaintly but expressively designated by his con- 
temporaries. It was published at Paris, and contained fifty psalms, 
written in a variety of measures, with “ the same style he had done 
his ballads and rondeaux.” This “holy song-book” was dedicated to 
the king of France ; and being a gay novelty, no book was ever more 
eagerly received by all classes than “Marot’s Psalms:” they sold 
Taster than the printers could take them off their presses; but as they 
were understood to be songs, and were unaccompanied by music, 
every one set them to favourite tunes, commonly those of popular 
ballads. 
The universal reception of “ Marot’s Psalms” induced Theodore 
Beza to conclude the collection, and ten thousand copies were imme- 
diately dispersed. These, however, had the advantage of being set 
to music, for we were told they were “ admirably fitted to the violin, 
and other musical instruments and we learn with surprise that it 
was to Calvin, the “gloomy and ascetic Calvin,” they were indebted 
for the simple and beautiful airs with which they were accompanied. 
Taking advantage of the public feeling, he had engaged the first 
musical composers to aid, by the power of melody, the spread of his 
opinions. “At first this was not discovered, and Catholics, as W’ell 
as Huguenots, were solacing themselves on all occasions with this 
new music. But when Calvin appointed these psalms to be sung at 
his meetings, and Marot’s formed an appendix to the catechism of 
Geneva, this put an end to all psalm-singing for the poor Catholics! 
Marot himself was forced to fly to Geneva from the fulminations of 
the Sorbonne, and psalm -singing became an open declaration of what 
the French termed “ Lutheranism.” 
In our island, its history is soon told. Stemhold, an enthusiast 
for the Reformation, undertook to be our Marot— without his genius. 
His psahns were practised by the Puritans in the reign of Elizabeth,' 
and more particularly during the protectorate of Cromwell. 
Psalms were now sung at lord mayors’ dinners and city feasts ; 
soldiers sang them on the march, and at parade; and few houses, 
which bad windows fronting the street, but had their evening 
psalms. 
The following lines, which conclude the dedication, well describe 
the feeling and enthusiasm of their author:— 
“ Thrice happy they, who may behold. 
And listen, in that age of gold ! 
