Page:Lives of Poets-Laureate.djvu/230

216 and N. Tate Esq., Poet-Laureate. In a pamphlet entitled: "A brief and full account of Mr. Tate and Mr. Brady's 'New Version of the Psalms,' by a true son of the Church," the Royal Sanction is copied. "At the Court of Kensington, Decr. 3rd, 1696. Present, the King's most excellent Majesty in Council. Upon the humble petition of Nicholas Brady and Nahum Tate this day read at the Board, setting forth that the Petitioners have, with their utmost care and industry, compleated a New Version of the Psalms of David in English Metre, fitted for publick use; and humbly praying His Majesty's Royal allowance that the said Version may be used in such congregations as shall think fit to receive it; His Majesty, taking the same into his royal consideration, is pleased to order in Council that the said New Version of the Psalms in English Metre be, and the same is hereby allowed, and permitted to be used in all Churches and Chapels and Congregations as shall think fit to receive the same."

Dr. Compton, Bishop of London, sent out circular letters of recommendation to all the clergy of his diocese. The version has been eulogised by Basil Kennet and others; but Bishop Beveridge has censured it for faults which it would now be difficult to discover. "There are," he says, "many such new phrases and romantic expressions in the new version, which are taken up by our present poets, and being now in fashion may serve well enough in other places, but can by no means suit with a divine poem, much less with one inspired by God himself." It encountered much prejudice and provoked some controversy. Tate undertook its defence, and published, in 1710, "An Essay for Promoting Psalmody." It is dedicated to Queen Anne. The style is quaint and florid. Psalmody is boldly personified and apostrophized as a goddess, a princess, a charmer. Parts of the treatise are written in a strain of rapture, and with the tone of a man