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 sb.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. Shaks., 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 sb. 3); b. in Scotland: A public almsman or licensed beggar (into which position ‘the King’s Bedesmen’ finally sank.)
c. 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. Shaks., 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. Wood, Channings, i. The decrepit old bedesmen in their black gowns.
1864. Atkinson, Whitby Gloss., Beadsmail … 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 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. Cariis Ebor.
1535. Boorde, Lett., 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. Lett., in Harrington, Nugæ Ant., 73. A dailye beadesman for you, and a right obedient subject.
