Middle English Dictionary Entry
bēde-man n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bēde-man n. Also bed-, beode-, beodes-. |
| Etymology | Cp. bēde & man. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A petitioner, a suppliant; a plaintiff.
Associated quotations
- (1414) RParl.4.57a : Besecheth mekely ȝoure pore Bedeman, Thomas Paunfeld, oon of the fre tenauntz of oure liege Lord the Kyng.
- (c1435) Contract in OSSLH 4187 : Mekely beseketh youre pore bedman, Thomas Baby, Prest, that where as youre seid Suppliant delivered certein godes [etc.].
- (1438) Proc.Privy C.5.84 : Besecheth mekely youre poevere bedman, John Spenser, that was and is professed a monk of Mochelnay.
- (1439-40) Contract in OSSLH 4180 : Beseches mekely your pouer bedeman, John Osgodby of London, Brewer, forasmoche as..your said besecher toke accions of detenue [etc.].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)28 : Bedman: Orator, supplicator, exorator.
- (1441) Pet.Chanc.in Seld.Soc.10132 : Besechith humbly your pouer bedeman and bedewomen [etc.].
2.
An official spokesman, a crier, a messenger.
Associated quotations
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.41 : I shal..be þi bedeman and bere wel þi message.
- (1453) LRed Bk.Bristol2.204 : To the parisch clerk for ringing of iiij bellis at Dirige..to the bedman, to proclame the saide Obite, iiij d.
3.
(a) One who prays for another; esp., an almsman who prays for his benefactors, an inmate (of a religious foundation) whose duty is to pray for the founder and his heirs; (b) a personal name.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)96b : Scheome ich cleopie..beon oþres beodes mon [Nero: beodemon] as ȝe beoð, leoue sustren.
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)327 : Ȝwane ani preost sacrede, kneoli it wolde þar-to..A wonder bede-man it was.
- (1341) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100541 : Garderoba..In Russeto emp. pro Bedmen domus Dei.
- (1350-1) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)1.650 : [To the poor called] Bedemen [in the said Abbey].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.47 : Heo tolde him a tale and tok him a noble, For to ben hire beode-mon [B: bedeman; C: bedman] and hire Baude after.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.276 : Beggers and bedmen crauen mede for here prayers.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)43/14 : In þe parische chirche..schuld be mo bedemen þan in eny chirche of freres.
- (1439) EEWills126/30 : To bere Charges of such prestes and poor men as ensuyth..at Stoke, a prest and iij bedmen.
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick195 : Besechen fulle mekely your pouere contynuelle oratours and oratrices, all the bedemen and bedewomen of the almes house of Leycestre.
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.51/29 : I will my iij Bedmen hafe Ilkon of yam a cowe.
b
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2154 : Waltero Bedeman.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3271 : Willelmus Bedman.
- (1351) Cart.St.John in OHS 6984 : Robertus Bedemon.
- (1392) Court R.Hastings in Sus.RS 3717 : Bedeman.
4.
In letters: your ~, your humble servant; devout ~, povre ~, treu ~, etc.
Associated quotations
- (1420) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.167 : We ȝowr seruitours and bede men..recommende vs vnto ȝowr most heygh grace.
- (1420) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.170 : Ȝowr seruitours an Bedemen, Her George and Jon Stokes.
- (a1424) Stonor1.35 : Þe parson, my cosyn, and ȝore bedeman, has his accion as for his reparacions.
- (1426) Paston2.16 : If the seyd Duk of Norffolk lyked..to graunte to the seyd William..the favour of hese good lordship, the seyd William wolde evere be hys pouere and trewe bedeman.
- (1447) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2341 : I, your preest, and bedman, before that I wolde in any wise procede to any correction, as I am beidde vnder pyn of dampnacion to do [etc.].
- (1447-8) Shillingford1 : Bysekyth yow full mykely..alle the hole comminalte of the seyde cyte, youre owne puple and true bedman.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)24.249 : Thanne Answerid this vauasowr..'ȝe ne Connon..Comaunden me, that I nel fulfille..Evere As ȝowre Owne pore Bedeman.'
- (1458-9) Let.Sou.in Sou.RS 22 (Sou SC.2/9/2)17 : Your seruant & bedman, w. clerk mair of Suth.
- (c1460) Paston (Gairdner)4.5 : I am your bedman, and so shall remayn be the grace of God all the days of myn liff.
- a1500(a1422) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)26 : Sadely, mekely and truely besecheth youre true liegeman and continuel devoute bedman, J. B., that [etc.].