beadsman
(ˈbiːdzmən)
Forms: 3–4 beodemon, 4–6 bedeman, 4–7 bed-, 6 beid-, bedys-, beids-, 6–7 bead-, 7 beades-, 9 bede-, 6– bedes-, beadsman.
[ME. beodeman, f. bead n.1 + man: with beadsman = bead's-man cf. kinsman, craftsman, townsman, etc. The archaic spellings bedesman, bedeman, are also used as historical forms.]
1. lit. A man of prayer; one who prays for the soul or spiritual welfare of another.
| c 1230 Ancr. R. 356 Beon oðres beodemon. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. ix. xxvii. 99 His Bede-men þai suld be..And pray for hym. 1538 Latimer Serm. & Rem. (1845) 412 The prior of Worcester, is your orator and beadsman. c 1540 Thrie Priests of Peblis, Welcum my beidmen, my blesse, and al my beild. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. i. i. 18 Commend thy grieuance to my holy prayers, For I will be thy beadesman, Valentine. 1647 Ward Simp. Cobler (1843) 62 As fervent a Beadsman for your welfare. 1869 Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) III. ii. 28 His friend and bedesman, Abbot Eadwine. |
2. One paid or endowed to pray for others; a pensioner or almsman charged with the duty of praying for the souls of his benefactors. Hence in later times;
a. in England: An almsman, an inmate of an almshouse; (so also
beadswoman: see
bead n. 3);
b. in Scotland: A public almsman or licensed beggar (into which position ‘the King's Bedesmen’ finally sank.)
| a 1528 Skelton Image Hypocr. 108 Other smale mynisters, As reders and singers, Bedemen and bellringers. 1593 Peele Chron. Edw. I, 82 He shall have forty pound of yearly fee, And be my beadsman. 1593 Shakes. Rich. II, iii. ii. 116 Thy very Beads-men learne to bend their Bowes. 1726 Lond. Gaz. No. 6458/5 John Hailes, a Beadsman of the Cathedral Church of Ely. |
| a. 1524 S. Fish Supplic. Begg. 18 Your poore sike lame and sore bedemen. 1582 N. T. (Rhem.) Acts x. 21 marg., The praise of our Almsfolkes and beadsmen may do us great good euen after our departure. 1636 Dekker Wonder iv. i. Wks. 1873 IV. 267 To be a Beades-man in your Hospitall. 1862 Mrs. H. Wood Channings i, The decrepit old bedesmen in their black gowns. 1864 Atkinson Whitby Gloss., Beadsman..now used to denote almspeople in general, and prevalent at Guisborough, as applied to the inmates of the almshouses in that town. |
| b. 1788 Burns Wks. III. 302 Stranger, go! Heav'n be thy guide! Quoth the Beadsman of Nith-side. 1816 Scott Antiq. Advt. 6 These Bedesmen are an order of paupers to whom the Kings of Scotland were in the custom of distributing a certain alms..and who were expected in return to pray for the royal welfare and that of the state. Ibid. xxxviii, It wadna be creditable for me, that am the king's bedesman, and entitled to beg by word of mouth. |
† 3. A messenger.
Obs.| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. iii. 41, I shal assoille þe my-selue..And also be þi bedeman · and bere wel þi message. |
† 4. A petitioner.
arch.| 1600 S. Nicholson Acolastus (1876) 11 Poore foolish Blinkard, Beads-man vnto Christ, For restitution of long-lacked sight. 1876 Bancroft Hist. U.S. V. xli. 12 Having thus owned the continuing sovereignty of the king, before whom they presented themselves as bedemen. |
† 5. The term by which men used to designate or subscribe themselves in addressing their patrons and superiors, answering to our modern ‘humble servant.’ (
Cf. ‘your petitioners will ever pray,’ still retained at the end of petitions to Parliament.)
Obs.| 1420 George & Stokes in Ellis Orig. Lett. iii. 29 I. 67 We ȝowr seruitours and bede men. 1485 Plumpton Corr. 49 Your bedman, Sir Tho. Betanson. 1529 Wolsey in Four C. Eng. Lett. 11 Your dayly bedysman And assuryd friend, T. Carlis Ebor. 1535 Boorde Let. in Introd. Knowl. (1870) 53 By þe hond of your saruantt and bedman, Andrew Boord. 1577 Holinshed Chron. III. 1164/1 Your graces most bounden bedesman and seruant Edmund Boner. 1645 Let. in Harrington Nugæ Ant. 73 A dailye beadesman for you, and a right obedient subject. |