Paternoster, 'Knight's' (1470)

This paternoster is suitable for mid status portrayals of the period c. 1450 - c. 1500.

Dominican priest Alanus de Rupe was one of the movers and shakers behind the rosary confraternity movement in the 15th C.. In the 1470's he wrote 'Unser lieben frauen',  one of the first printed psalters, or rosary books. In the tenth "Exemplum" (anecdote) in that book, de Rupe describes a rosary prescribed by St. Dominic for a penitent knight. 

"In the next-following figure is a paternoster that has five large stones, and after every one large stone should be ten small. The first large stone of the five is many-colored and signifies the multiplicity of your sins. The second stone is light colored, and signifies the uncertain death that is in your certain future. The third stone is red, and signifies the Last Judgment at which you must give an account of your life. The fourth stone of the five is black, and signifies hell. The fifth stone of the paternoster is gilt, and signifies the glory and joy of the saints: which glory and joy is promised to those who keep the commandment of God."

A plate in the book depicts what appears to be St. Dominic giving a knight (denoted by his sword) a paternoster. Our version is based on the image, guided by de Rupe's description. Also considered were paternosters of the later 15th C. such as the paternoster of Philippe de Croy and the paternoster held by St. Joseph in the Magdalene Reading.

Our reconstruction of the 'Knight's paternoster' is made of faux rock crystal beads with gauds in the colours described by de Rupe. It is available 3 ways:

• Red tassel on one end, gold ring on the other
• Black tassel both ends
• Red tassel one end, cross on the other

Paternoster comes with storage bag and information about religion and the use of prayer beads in medieval Europe. Sheet also contains the Pater Noster and Ave Maria prayers in Latin.

For more general information on our prayer beads, please see the main section page as well as General Information

PLEASE NOTE: These are individually hand made by Gwen. As with all handmade items there may be slight variations due to the nature of the materials used.

(Credit to Chris Laning, master Paternoster researcher, who published both the image and translation from de Rupe's 'Exemplum' in her blog on October 25, 2005. The full entry and more information can be found here:  Alanus de Rupe and the Beads of Death.)