Bedesman, or beadsman (Middle Englishbede, 'prayer', from the Old Englishbiddan, 'to pray'; lit.'a man of prayer'; and from the Anglo-Saxon bed), was generally a pensioner or almsman whose duty was to pray for his benefactor.
A beadsman (or beadswoman) in Medieval times occupied their position as attached to the crown and churches in Scotland and England. In general, the task was to pray for souls listed on a bede-roll represented by small items on a string called 'bedes' (i.e. "prayers"). Souls who wished to be prayed for, secured their listing by giving alms, donations, or gifts.[2] if a departed soul was a member of a guild the chaplain would add them to the roll for prayer post-mortem. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the use of little perforated globes of bone, wood, or amber, threaded on a string, came into fashion for the purpose of counting the repetitions of the Our Father or Hail Mary. These objects themselves became known as 'bedes', later becoming known as 'beads'.[2]
Beadsmen were sometimes accommodated in a Bedehouse (an alms-house), some of which have survived into modern times. These are generally considered to be buildings of special interest and are often listed.[citation needed]
Royal arrangementedit
In Scotland, there were public almsmen which were supported by the king who were expected to pray for his welfare and that of the state in return. These men wore long blue gowns with a pewter badge on the right arm, and were nicknamed Blue Gowns. Their number corresponded to the king's years, an extra one being added each royal birthday. They were privileged to ask alms throughout Scotland.[3] On the king's birthday, each bedesman received a new blue gown, a loaf, a bottle of ale, and a leathern purse containing a penny for every year of the king's life. On the pewter badge which they wore were their name and the words "pass and repass," which authorised them to ask alms.[4] No more Blue Gown bedesmen were appointed after 1833, and the last recorded payment under these arrangements was made in 1863.[4]
Englandedit
In consequence of its use in this general sense of pensioner, "bedesman" was long used in English as equivalent to "servant." The word had a special sense as the name for those almsmen attached to cathedrals and other churches, whose duty it was to pray for the souls of deceased benefactors. A relic of pre-Reformation times, these old men still figure in the accounts of English cathedrals.[4]
St Botolph's Church in Boston, Lincolnshire traditionally appoints four Choral Bedesmen, whose role is to sing the daily services. The posts attracted a nominal stipend until early in the 21st century. The Bedesmen have included female choristers since 2015 and currently (2023) include a singer for each part.
Elsewhereedit
In a somewhat similar practice in Spain (roughly 14th century onwards), there were blind people hired to sing prayers for customers. Some customers were regulars, others hired these singers only from time to time.[5] Bedesmen existed in Scotland until the late 1990s.[6] The last beadsman in Aberdeen died in 1988.[7]
^Chambers, Robert (1885). Domestic Annals of Scotland. Edinburgh : Chambers. p.401.
^ abcOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bedesman". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 616.
^McAleese, R. 2017. 'Life in the Day of a Bedesman', Scottish Local History Journal, 97: 29-38.
^McAleese, R. 2017. 'Life in the Day of a Bedesman', Scottish Local History Journal, 97: 29-38.
March 14, 2024
beadsman, racehorse, horse, bedesman, beadsman, middle, english, bede, prayer, from, english, biddan, pray, prayer, from, anglo, saxon, generally, pensioner, almsman, whose, duty, pray, benefactor, bedesman, carved, tomb, ralph, fitzherbert, died, 1483, conten. For the racehorse see Beadsman horse Bedesman or beadsman Middle English bede prayer from the Old English biddan to pray lit a man of prayer and from the Anglo Saxon bed was generally a pensioner or almsman whose duty was to pray for his benefactor A bedesman carved on the tomb of Ralph Fitzherbert 1 who died in 1483 Contents 1 Function 2 Bedehouse 3 Royal arrangement 4 England 5 Elsewhere 6 See also 7 ReferencesFunction editA beadsman or beadswoman in Medieval times occupied their position as attached to the crown and churches in Scotland and England In general the task was to pray for souls listed on a bede roll represented by small items on a string called bedes i e prayers Souls who wished to be prayed for secured their listing by giving alms donations or gifts 2 if a departed soul was a member of a guild the chaplain would add them to the roll for prayer post mortem In the 12th and 13th centuries the use of little perforated globes of bone wood or amber threaded on a string came into fashion for the purpose of counting the repetitions of the Our Father or Hail Mary These objects themselves became known as bedes later becoming known as beads 2 Bedehouse editMain article Almshouse Beadsmen were sometimes accommodated in a Bedehouse an alms house some of which have survived into modern times These are generally considered to be buildings of special interest and are often listed citation needed Royal arrangement editIn Scotland there were public almsmen which were supported by the king who were expected to pray for his welfare and that of the state in return These men wore long blue gowns with a pewter badge on the right arm and were nicknamed Blue Gowns Their number corresponded to the king s years an extra one being added each royal birthday They were privileged to ask alms throughout Scotland 3 On the king s birthday each bedesman received a new blue gown a loaf a bottle of ale and a leathern purse containing a penny for every year of the king s life On the pewter badge which they wore were their name and the words pass and repass which authorised them to ask alms 4 No more Blue Gown bedesmen were appointed after 1833 and the last recorded payment under these arrangements was made in 1863 4 England editIn consequence of its use in this general sense of pensioner bedesman was long used in English as equivalent to servant The word had a special sense as the name for those almsmen attached to cathedrals and other churches whose duty it was to pray for the souls of deceased benefactors A relic of pre Reformation times these old men still figure in the accounts of English cathedrals 4 St Botolph s Church in Boston Lincolnshire traditionally appoints four Choral Bedesmen whose role is to sing the daily services The posts attracted a nominal stipend until early in the 21st century The Bedesmen have included female choristers since 2015 and currently 2023 include a singer for each part Elsewhere editIn a somewhat similar practice in Spain roughly 14th century onwards there were blind people hired to sing prayers for customers Some customers were regulars others hired these singers only from time to time 5 Bedesmen existed in Scotland until the late 1990s 6 The last beadsman in Aberdeen died in 1988 7 See also editBede Bede disambiguation Bede House Old Aberdeen Hospitals in medieval Scotland Lyddington Bede HouseReferences edit Camm Bede 2004 Forgotten Shrines Gracewing p 16 ISBN 0 85244 615 2 Retrieved 24 November 2010 a b Bede Chambers Robert 1885 Domestic Annals of Scotland Edinburgh Chambers p 401 a b c nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Bedesman Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 3 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 616 Gomis Juan Pious voices Blind Spanish prayer singers Renaissance Studies 33 1 2019 42 63 McAleese R 2017 Life in the Day of a Bedesman Scottish Local History Journal 97 29 38 McAleese R 2017 Life in the Day of a Bedesman Scottish Local History Journal 97 29 38 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beadsman amp oldid 1202923191, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
