Wulfhere's Devices: Paternosters

Wes Hál!

Greetings! I am Lord Hubert de Stockleye (aka Wulfhere of Eofeshamme), a Herald at Large in the Kingdom of Calontir which is part of the medieval research and re-creation group the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). My legal name is Berry Canote. Let me tell you about this blog. When I returned to the SCA a couple of years ago I did something I had not done my previous times as a member. I designed and submitted a device (called a coat of arms by those not in the SCA). In the process of coming up with different designs, seeing what could be done, and what could not be done I developed an interest in heraldry. This blog highlights many of my designs as well as gives tips on name research. For more information please read the About this Blog Page. There if you are a SCA member you can learn how to register one of these designs as your own device as well as get acquainted with what I do. Finally, feel free to browse the links list. A note of caution, I am still very new to this so you are encouraged to consult another herald. In the time since I have started this blog I have begun writing on other topics of interest to me so expect to see other topics on the Middle Ages. Note: This is not an official Society for Creative Anachronism site. The views expressed here are my own.

Saturday, April 1, 2017

Paternosters

Recently, I became interested in paternosters. The paternoster is the ancestor of the modern Roman Catholic rosary, a string of beads used to count prayers. Essentially, they are prayer beads. Hindus, Catholics, and Muslims all make use of prayer beads making it difficult to trace their origins. It is not known if their use in several religions is a case of borrowing from one religion to another, or a case of independent development.

Among Catholics, it is said Saint Anthony used pebbles to count his prayer. Saint Anthony was an ascetic living in the third century A.D. which would make the practice of counting prayers very old. Paternosters became common around 1000 A.D. They are mentioned in the will of Godgifu of Mercia (the legendary Lady Godiva) in 1041 A.D. It is believed originally, they were used to keep count of recitations of the 150 Psalms, but in the eleventh century the Carthusians and Cistercians allowed laymen to recite the Pater Noster (Lord's Prayer) instead. Later, the Ave Maria (Hail Mary) prayer was recited in the count of the beads as well. As the Middle Ages wore on, variations were developed.

Thus paternosters developed to have small beads and large beads. The large beads are called guads and are used for counts of the Lord's Prayer. The smaller beads are used to count Hail Marys. Generally, there would be a string of ten Hail Mary beads to one Lord's Prayer bead, but sometimes the count was five Hail Mary beads to one Lord's Prayer bead. The length of Paternosters varied. They could consist of 10. 50, or 150 Hail Mary beads or any count in between. They developed in two forms. One was a circle of beads, not unlike a necklace, and then here a linear form, a straight line of beads.

Paternoster beads were made of any number of substances. Wooden beads were common as were clay beads, but glass beads and semi-precious stones were used as well. Tassels, saints' medals, pouches, crosses, or any number of things could form the ends. The paternoster thereby became a fashion accessory, a way to display one's wealth as well as one's piety. In medieval sculptures and paintings as well as literary references, the beads could be worn in a variety of ways. Some seem to dangle from the belt, others were worn around the wrist or the neck or were pinned to one's dress or tunic using a broach. No doubt those not wanting to display their beads carried them in a pouch.

Any modern medieval reenactor would do well to carry with them a paternoster. If one is acquainted with beading, paternosters are not difficult to make. There is a list of the types of beads used at Rosalie's Medieval Woman (link below). The article, "The Medieval Rosary" (link below) provides information on their construction. A variety of threads for cords were used among them being silk, cotton, wool, and hemp. Personally, I favor silk for its strength. Some people tie knots between the beads. This has the advantage that if the strand breaks, one is likely to lose only one or two beads. However, it is also time consuming in construction.

Pictured below is the first paternoster I made. The red beads are coral. The larger green beads are agate. The cross is from Raymond's Quiet Press. The tassel I made myself, and is the first one I ever made.