His verse-translation of the
Psalms was first published in 1644. It was reprinted and altered in 1645, 1646, 1651, 1654, and later. The text having been revised for "the last time" by its
author, it was posthumously republished in 1682. In the preface Barton says: "I have (in this my last translation) corrected all the harsh passages and added a great number of second metres." He continues: "The
Scots of late have put forth a Psalm-book mostwhat composed out of mine and Mr. Rouse's; but it did not give full satisfaction, for somebody hath been at charge to put forth a new edition of mine, and printed some thousands of mine, in
Holland, as it is reported. But whether they were printed there or no I am in doubt; for I am sure that 1,500 of my books were heretofore printed by stealth in England and carried over to
Ireland". In 1654 he had prepared the way for his enlarged and improved Psalms by publishing
A View of the many Errors and some gross Absurdities in the old Translations of the Psalms in English Metre (Douce's copy in
Bodleian). In 1659 he published
A Century of Select Hymns. This was enlarged in 1668 to
Four Centuries, and in 1688 to
Six Centuries, the last being edited by his son, Edward Barton,
minister of
Welford in
Northamptonshire. His
Centuries were dedicated to
Sir Matthew Hale. Richard Baxter suggested that Barton should specially translate and versify the
Te Deum. ==References==