The date of the Ravenscroft collection brings us to the time of the Pilgrims. When they loaded the "Mayflower" with their homely household furniture, spinning-wheels, and arms of defence, and set out upon their long and uncertain voyage to find a friendly shore where they might worship God in their own fashion, the psalm-book was not forgotten. They brought with them a version made by Henry Ainsworth of Amsterdam, in which the notes set above the words were of lozenge shape. For twenty years it was in exclusive use, though the Salem Church did not abandon it until 1667, and the Plymouth Church retained the old favorite until 1692. The Sternhold and Hopkins collection had also found its way over, but it was used only at Ipswich and in its vicinity. In 1640 appeared the Bay Psalm Book, issued from the Cambridge press. It was prepared by an association of New England divines, most prominent among whom were Thomas Welde, Richard Mather of Dorchester, and John Eliot of Roxbury, the famous Indian missionary. Being new, it was at once regarded as an innovation. The churches were soon in a wrangle, not only over the contents of the new collection, but as to the methods of singing. Some were opposed to singing altogether, while others insisted that only Christian voices should be heard. At no time were the colonists very learned in music. In the edition of the Bay Psalm Book printed in 1698, the following concise directions appear:-- "_First_, observe how many note-compass the tune is next the place of your first note, and how many notes above and below that, so as you may begin the tune of your first note, as the rest may be sung in the compass of your and the people's voices, without Squeaking above or Grumbling below. For the better understanding of which take note of the following directions: "Of the eight short Tunes used to four lines only, whose measure is to eight syllables on the first line, and six on the next; and may be sung to any Psalms of that measure. Oxford Tune. } Litchfield Tune. } To Psalms Consolatory. Low Dutch Tune. } York Tune. } Winsor Tune. } To Psalms of Prayer, Confessions, and Funerals. Cambridge Short Tune to peculiar Psalms, as 21, 24, 33, 70, 86, first metre, 114, 132. "Those six short tunes, in tuning the first notes, will bear a cheerful high pitch; in regard to their whole compass from the lowest note, the highest is not above five or six notes. St. David's Tune. } Martyrs Tune. } To Psalms of Praise and Thanksgiving. "These two tunes are eight notes compass above the first note, and therefore begin the first note low. "Of five long tunes following: "Hackney Tune--119 Psalm Tune, second metre. These two tunes begin your first note low, for the compass is nine notes, and eight above the first note of the tune.