<html><div>The Rosary as it is said today (in the same manner throughout
the Catholic Church) was only beginning to be finalised in the late years
of the fifteenth century, even then, it took some time to become
commonplace. A full break-down of the traditions according to the
catholic Church can be found at
<a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13184b.htm" EUDORA=AUTOURL>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13184b.htm</a>
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<div><x-tab> </x-tab>In England, certainly during the 15th century, the Rosary was known as a Paternoster. It was used as an aid to remembering which prayers to say - the Ava Maria (Hail Mary) and the Paternoster (Our Father). Each bead represents one full version of the prayer - a large bead for the Paternoster, small bead for the Ave.</div>
<div><x-tab> </x-tab>These strings of beads could be either a string (often finished either end with a tassel) or a loop (finished with only one tassel). Paternosters consist of sections of beads, with 1 large bead between 6-12 smaller beads. The beads are held in the hand, as the fingers move to a bead, the appropriate payer is said.</div>
<div><x-tab> </x-tab>There was no 'short' version as such, although, because there wasn't a consistent requirement for the saying of the prayers as there is today (fifteen decades of hail Marys with an Our father between each ten), people did actually say less as there was such a variety in the number of beads. Of course, the very pious would just start over again!</div>
<div><x-tab> </x-tab>Everyone who could afford to would carry a paternoster. The medieval people on the whole had a very different outlook to religion, and the carrying of prayer beads was commonplace. Paternosters were made of whatever could be afforded - all small beads would be of the same material and all large beads often a contrasting material (but all large beads matching each other). Many works of art depict paternosters made of materials such as amber, garnet, silver, pearls, etc. </div>
<div><x-tab> </x-tab>Paternosters were certainly carried to church, and it is thought that they were carried at all times, certainly by the pious. (As well as taking into consideration the costs of some of them, it can be supposed that they wouldn't be left at home often) A man would often loop a Paternoster over his belt, and as art shows more women using the loop of beads, it could be assumed that this was to enable them to carry it say, around their wrist. </div>
<div><x-tab> </x-tab>I hope this has been of some help.</div>
<div><x-tab> </x-tab>G. Barrett</div>
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<b>Soper Lane<br>
</b><i>15th Century Silkwomen<br>
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