Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 61.djvu/133

 to be in style and feeling the finest rendering into English of the famous original. It has been 'edited with historical introduction by Dom Wilfrid Raynal, O.S.B.,' London, 1872. 15. 'Certaine devout and Godly petitions commonly called Jesus Psalter. Cum Privilegio. Anno 1583.' It is very probably conjectured that this favourite book of devotion, known in modern times under the title of 'A Meditation Glorious named Jesus Psalter,' was Whitford's composition. In 1558-9 there is licensed to John Judson in the 'Stationers' Register' 'The Spirituall Counsaile, Jesus Mattens, Jesus Psalter, and xv Oes.' A manuscript in the library of Manresa House, Roehampton, seems to be the book entered in the 'Stationers' Register,' and is nearly identical with the work published in 1583. There is an earlier edition printed at Antwerp in 1575, and numerous later editions. The whole question of Whitford's authorship and the relation to each other of manuscript and editions is discussed in 'Jesu's Psalter. What it was at its origin and as consecrated by the use of many martyrs and confessors,' by the Rev. Samuel Heydon Sole, London, 1888. This prints the manuscript of 1571, the edition of 1583, and the modern version of the Psalter. 16. A translation in the Bodleian Library of the 'Speculum B. Mariae—The Myrrour of Our Lady,' was almost certainly by Whitford. It was executed at the request of the abbess of Syon, and printed in 1530, 4to. Certain 'Solitary Meditations' are also ascribed to Whitford by Tanner, without any date or comment.

 WHITFORD, WALTER (1581?–1647), bishop of Brechin, born about 1581, was the son of Adam Whitford of Milntown (now called Milton Lockhart), by his wife Mary, daughter of Sir James Somerville of Cambusnethan in Lanarkshire. The family of Whitford derives its name from the estate of Whitford in Renfrewshire on the Cart, which Walter de Whitford obtained for his services at the battle of Largs in 1263. Adam Whitford was accused of being concerned in January 1575–6 in a conspiracy against the regent, James Douglas, fourth earl of Morton [q. v.]

Walter was educated at Glasgow University, where he was laureated in 1601, and afterwards acted as regent. On 10 May 1604 he was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Paisley, and on 3 Dec. 1608 he was presented by James VI to the parish of Kilmarnock in Ayrshire. In 1610 he was translated to Moffat in Dumfriesshire, where he was admitted before 8 June. In 1613 he was nominated on the commission of the peace for Annandale (, Reg. of Privy Council, 1613–16, pp. 162–3, 546–7, 552), and was involved in several of the family feuds with which the county abounded (ib. 1616–1619, p. 389).

On 27 June 1617 Whitford signed the protestation to parliament in support of the liberties of the kirk, but he suffered himself soon after to be won over by the king, and on 15 June 1619 he was nominated a member of the court of high commission. On 30 Aug. he was constituted minister of Failford in Ayrshire by James VI, in addition to his other charge. In March 1620 he received the degree of D.D. from Glasgow University; and on 4 Aug. 1621 he was confirmed in his ministry by act of parliament. In 1623 his commission of justice of the peace was renewed, and he was appointed convener of the stewartry of Annandale (ib. 1622–5, p. 344). In the same year James proposed to translate him to Liberton in Midlothian, but failed to carry out his intention. On 25 Oct. 1627 he was appointed one of the commissioners nominated by the king for taking measures against the papists (Reg. Mag. Sigil. Regum Scot. 1620–33, p. 356), which on 21 Oct. 1634 was expanded into a high commission to cite and punish all persons dwelling in Scotland concerning whom there were unfavourable reports (ib. 1634–51, p. 94). On 9 Dec. 1628 he was presented by Charles I to the sub-deanery of Glasgow, which after 1670 formed the parish of Old Monkland in Lanarkshire. He removed thither in 1630, a dispute as to the crown's right of patronage preventing him from taking possession before; and on 21 Oct. 1634 he was nominated to the commission for the maintenance of church discipline.

In 1635 Whitford was consecrated as bishop of Brechin as successor to Thomas Sydserff [q. v.], holding the sub-deanery in commendam until 1639, when he disponed his title to James Hamilton, third marquis (afterwards first duke) of Hamilton [q. v.] On 16 April 1635 he was created a burgess of Arbroath. Whitford used his episcopal authority to support the liturgical changes