A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1681-1700+
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(Swete singers,) Sweet singers, n. pl. [Late 17th c. Eng. sweet singers (of Israel) (1680), "apparently with reminiscence of 2 Sam. xxiii 1, where David is called ‘the sweet psalmist of Israel’" (OED); Swet(e adv. 3 and Singar n.] A religious sect of the late 17th c. characterised by ostentatious praying, psalm-singing, etc. —1681 Fountainhall Decis. I 145.
Ker, Jamieson, Young and Gibb; four of the men called Sweet Singers, who had framed a most ridiculous paper that was printed, they turning more sober, retracted part of their former extravagancies, and before the Secret Council declared they thought it not lawful to rise up in arms against the Magistrates authority, tho' in their printed testimony the Spirit did then suggest the contrary to them 1681 Hay Fleming Six Saints II 19.
[These people at first were commonly called] Sweet-singers, [from their frequently meeting together, and singing these tearful psalms] a1721 Wodrow Hist. III (1829) 349-50.
John Gib and some few with him, laid aside all business, pretending to spend all their time in fasting, prayer, and other acts of devotion [etc.] … Towards the end of April, 1681, they were taken by act of council … Their society … had got the name of ‘sweet singers’
